A lifelong task March 05 “But just how, in these circumstances, does a fellow ‘take it easy?’ That’s what I want to know.” Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 26 I was never known for my patience. How many times have I asked, “Why should I wait, when I can have it all right now?” […]

The idea of faith March 06 Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 47 The idea of faith is a very large chunk to swallow when fear, doubt and anger abound in and around me. Sometimes just […]

The key is willingness March 07 Once we have placed the key of willingness in the lock and have the door ever so slightly open, we find that we can always open it some more. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 35 The willingness to give up my pride and self-will to a Power greater […]

Turning it over March 08 Every man and woman who has joined A.A. and intends to stick has, without realizing it, made a beginning on Step Three. Isn’t it true that in all matters touching upon alcohol, each of them has decided to turn his or her life over to the care, protection, and guidance […]

Surrendering self-will March 09 Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.  Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 34 No matter how much one wishes to try, exactly how can one turn his own will and his own life over to the care […]

Today, it's my choice March 10 . . . we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 62 With the realization and acceptance that I had played a part in the way my […]

Good orderly direction March 11 It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us, this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We had tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting […]

A day's plan March 12 On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.  Alcoholics anonymous, p. 86 Every day I ask God to kindle […]

A world of the spirit March 13 We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 The word “entered” . . . and the phrase “entered into the world of […]

The keystone March 14 He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 62 A keystone is the wedge-shaped piece at the highest part of an arch that locks […]

The God idea March 15 When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 52 Like a blind man gradually being restored to sight, I […]

Ae se understand Him March 16 My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea. . . . “Why don’t you choose your own conception of God?” That statement hit me hard. It melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last. […]

Mysterious ways March 17 . . . out of every season of grief or suffering, when the hand of God seemed heavy or even unjust, new lessons for living were learned, new resources of courage were uncovered, and that finally, inescapably, the conviction came that God does “move in a mysterious way His wonders to […]

Real independence March 18 The more we become willing to depend upon a Higher Power, the more independent we actually are. Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 36 I start with a little willingness to trust God and He causes that willingness to grow. The more willingness I have, the more trust I gain, and […]

Prayer: It works March 19 It has been well said that “almost the only scoffers at prayer are those who never tried it enough.” Twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 97 Having grown up in an agnostic household, I felt somewhat foolish when I first tried praying. I knew there was a Higher Power working […]

The God idea March 15 When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 52 Like a blind man gradually being restored to sight, I […]

Love and tolerance March 20 Love and tolerance of others is our code. Alcoholics anonymous, p. 84 I have found that I have to forgive others in all situations to maintain any real spiritual progress. The vital importance of forgiving may not be obvious to me at first sight, but my studies tell me that […]

. . . And no more reservations March 23 We have seen the truth again and again: “Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.”. . . If we are planning to stop drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol. . . . […]

Active, not passive March 24 Man is supposed to think, and act. He wasn’t made in God’s image to be an automaton. As Bill sees it, p. 55 Before I joined A.A., I often did not think, and reacted to people and situations. When not reacting I acted in a mechanical fashion. After joining A.A., […]