Praying With Step Eleven To Know God's Will And Be Empowered To Do It

We are continuing our journey through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous – and what we’ve said so often are solid spiritual principles for all of us.  We’re nearing the end because today we are considering Step 11 which says:

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.

I don’t know what you pray about but if I think about my own prayers then I think I pray about lots of things that are more about me and my agenda than about knowing God’s will for me and the power to carry that out in this day.  How about you?

Now, there’s nothing wrong with bringing our needs, our hopes, our frustrations, our “anything” to God.  I hope we do that.  But we’ll do well when we prioritize praying for God’s will for us and the power to carry it out.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

God has a wonderful plan for our lives.  No day is wasted.  In every moment there is a lesson for us as God rebuilds us according to His original plan.  Even our past mistakes can be used by God to bless others and let them know how much He loves them.  As we continue to pay attention to God and obey what He says, His will for our lives will become clearer.  God promises that we will have a life that is better than we ever could have thought or imagined. 

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 20-21

So Heavenly Father, that’s what we are coming to You for today – that we would be built up in our faith, that we would pray conscious of the leading the Holy Spirit, and that in it all we would rest and take refuge in the love of God.  We know all of those things are clearly in Your will because we’ve just read those words from the Bible telling us to do that.

Once again today we want to turn our will and our life over to Your care, God.  As we do, we trust You to work in us to help us change.  As we pray and meditate and read Your Word today and each day, help us to hear from You and correctly interpret the ongoing events in our lives by what You tell us.  Help us put Your directives into practice because we know we’ll learn to recognize You voice and Your way guiding us as we see things work out when we do.

Most of all today, we want to pray and meditate so we get to know You better because we don’t “get” unfailing love all that well and if we did, we’d act more consistent with what You say.  Help us to get beyond simply knowing facts about You to the place where we get to know You intimately and trust You with all our hearts.

We welcome the work of Your Holy Spirit in us today as You reveal Your will for our lives. Help us to live humbly before You and honour You in all our ways.  Amen