“We need to keep in mind that we pray only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 57

Before I got clean, worrying was a full-time job. I thought that if I worried about something, it wouldn’t happen. It was a bit shocking when I heard the phrase, “worrying is praying for something bad to happen.” I’ve learned that whatever I focus on increases. Practicing Step Eleven helps me remember to put my focus where it belongs, on my Higher Power. For years in recovery, I would pray to be shown my Higher Power’s will, but neglected to ask for the power to carry it out.

Today, I try to remember the entire wording of Step Eleven, “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.” As I pray, I enter the spirit of the world and remember that I am connected to everything. I pray for joy and gratitude. I ask to be shown what I need to do and say this day. I start each day thanking my Higher Power for my recovery, and ask to stay clean this day.

Final thought: May I turn to my Higher Power when unsure, and ask for guidance as well as the power to carry it out.