A Spiritual Look At the 12-Step Program
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are a part of a non-denominational, spiritual program which is, to date, the most successful way of helping alcoholics stay sober for the long run.
Since its humble beginnings, the program has been expanded to assist people in dealing with all life issues in a spiritual way. At any given time, you can find meetings happening for every life issue that you can think of. Like with the Universal Life Church, the sun never sets on the 12-step program.
There are many books that focus upon the spiritual value of living a life using the 12-Steps. Since the steps are a spiritual program, anyone who is interested in growing spiritually can utilize these amazing tools.
The 12 Steps present a tailored approach, customized in design, allowing for leverage in terms of one's spiritual beliefs, and validating our unique spiritual journeys.
The program was based on the premise that when we are going through spiritual bankruptcy, our lives will most likely be unmanageable.
In the absence of a relationship with God, we are in disarray, miserable, unhappy and out of control. In this state of lonely emptiness, we are lost and moving in darkness, which limits our capacity to experience life in positive ways, and keeps us moving in little more than a zombie-like state. It is not a good place to be, and fortunately it is temporary.
The 12-step program also leaves room for anyone who wishes to use these steps as a part of your particular religious belief system. They are flexible to a point, and that is part of the unique beauty of this program.
As ministers, it is so helpful to learn about different belief systems and how they can be used and applied to our lives and the lives of those who seek our help as ministers.
The 12-Step Spiritual Program was originally created by two alcoholics who were stuck in unending cycles of pain and suffering and have compared their lives to a living hell.
The two founders, Dr. Bob and Bill W. were spiritual seekers in their own right, desperately searching for ways to exit their personal hells. After a long quest, they learned that self-dependence was an illusion, and that it was absolutely necessary to have a belief in a power stronger than themselves to begin the healing process.
They also discovered that assisting others was vital to success. Without reaching out and sharing experience, strength and hope, success was transient.
Their experience shows that the human spirit, when pushed to the depths of despair, can rise from the ashes, like the phoenix, and create miracles.
€If you WANT a miracle, then you must first BE the miracle.€
The challenge in life involves learning from the pain, frustration and emptiness in our lives and our hearts so it can be turned around and used to create miracles.
One of the famous sayings in the program clarifies this eloquently:
€When life gives you lemons, learn to make lemonade.€
Since its humble beginnings, the program has been expanded to assist people in dealing with all life issues in a spiritual way. At any given time, you can find meetings happening for every life issue that you can think of. Like with the Universal Life Church, the sun never sets on the 12-step program.
There are many books that focus upon the spiritual value of living a life using the 12-Steps. Since the steps are a spiritual program, anyone who is interested in growing spiritually can utilize these amazing tools.
The 12 Steps present a tailored approach, customized in design, allowing for leverage in terms of one's spiritual beliefs, and validating our unique spiritual journeys.
The program was based on the premise that when we are going through spiritual bankruptcy, our lives will most likely be unmanageable.
In the absence of a relationship with God, we are in disarray, miserable, unhappy and out of control. In this state of lonely emptiness, we are lost and moving in darkness, which limits our capacity to experience life in positive ways, and keeps us moving in little more than a zombie-like state. It is not a good place to be, and fortunately it is temporary.
The 12-step program also leaves room for anyone who wishes to use these steps as a part of your particular religious belief system. They are flexible to a point, and that is part of the unique beauty of this program.
As ministers, it is so helpful to learn about different belief systems and how they can be used and applied to our lives and the lives of those who seek our help as ministers.
The 12-Step Spiritual Program was originally created by two alcoholics who were stuck in unending cycles of pain and suffering and have compared their lives to a living hell.
The two founders, Dr. Bob and Bill W. were spiritual seekers in their own right, desperately searching for ways to exit their personal hells. After a long quest, they learned that self-dependence was an illusion, and that it was absolutely necessary to have a belief in a power stronger than themselves to begin the healing process.
They also discovered that assisting others was vital to success. Without reaching out and sharing experience, strength and hope, success was transient.
Their experience shows that the human spirit, when pushed to the depths of despair, can rise from the ashes, like the phoenix, and create miracles.
€If you WANT a miracle, then you must first BE the miracle.€
The challenge in life involves learning from the pain, frustration and emptiness in our lives and our hearts so it can be turned around and used to create miracles.
One of the famous sayings in the program clarifies this eloquently:
€When life gives you lemons, learn to make lemonade.€
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