Action

When man has brought his higher self into action he will see clearly the relation of spirit, soul, and body, in all phases of their action.

- CHARLES FILLMORE

Is Spiritual "order of operations" important?

Charles Fillmore, in the quote above, promises "clear relation of spirit, soul and body in all phases" of action. To some level or varying degree that is what we all want. That is what we were "designed" for. However, there is a contingency to this promise! It requires bringing "his higher self into action" first. Without that vital first step in the process the chosen ideal cannot be met. The way in which we "bring out" our higher self is entirely personal but the way it is utilized is not. Action!

Despair

Reflection for the Day

So many of us suffer from despair. Yet we don’t realize that despair is purely the absence of faith. As long as we’re willing to turn to a Higher Power for help in our difficulties, we cannot despair. When we’re troubled and can’t see a way out, it’s only because we imagine that all solutions depend on us. The program teaches us to let go of overwhelming problems and let God handle them for us.

Roots

A tree’s roots seek water and minerals. Though the roots can’t be easily seen, they are there. The life of the tree depends on them. The stronger a tree’s roots, the higher a tree can grow.

We need to set deep roots into the soil of recovery. The soil of recovery is made up of the Twelve Steps, fellowship, and service to others. We’ll have to get through storms and high winds in our return to health.

New value system

Living the Twelve Step way is a twenty‑four‑hour‑a‑day opportunity.

Twelve Step programs expose us to ideas that seem foreign. It takes time to embrace a new value system we can live by every day. Absorbing and using these principles for every decision and action removes the worry from our lives.

Changing how we’ve thought and acted doesn’t happen overnight. Changing one thing at a time is enough at first. Perhaps we’ll give up our feeling of hopelessness. The Second Step tells us that God can free us from our insanity, our hopelessness. All we need do is ask for help, and hope will come. Maybe we decide the urge to take over someone else’s life must end.

Rely on a Higher Power

 

Sometimes the things that frighten you the most can turn out to be the biggest sources of strength. ~Iris Timberlake

Not many things would send fear through us if we remembered to rely on our Higher Power at all times. Yet we try to handle circumstances ourselves first. It’s often only when we finally feel hopeless that we turn to our Higher Power for the help that awaited us all along.

We make our lives much more difficult than they need to be. Let’s quit thinking through our problems alone, no matter how foolish they seem. Let’s quit trying to handle tough people alone.