Endigar 348 ~ Good Orderly Direction (GOD)
From Today’s Daily Reflection;
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 to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us. To make this increasingly possible is the purpose of A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 40)
All I have to do is look back at my past to see where my self-will has led me. I just don’t know what’s best for me and I believe my Higher Power does, G.O.D., which I define as “Good Orderly Direction,” has never let me down, but I have let myself down quite often. Using my self-will in a situation usually has the same result as forcing the wrong piece into a jigsaw puzzle – exhaustion and frustration.
Step Three opens the door to the rest of the program. When I ask God for guidance I know that whatever happens is the best possible situation, things are exactly as they are supposed to be, even if they aren’t what I what or expect. God does do for me what I cannot do for myself, if I let Him.
END OF QUOTE
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It is my understanding that the concept of God as being Good Orderly Direction was bridge of pragmatism in the fellowship to cross the abyss of mystical expectations and disappointments. We gain this spiritual guide in our lives by having a sponsor, listening to the network, and filtering all with accumulated wisdom of the reference literature such as the Big Book or the 12 & 12.
I think it is important to see that self-will as discussed here is different from the will power needed to face each day. For instance, the writers of the above reflection rightfully exercised will power by
1. Trying to make our will conform with God’s.
2. Bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us.
3. Ask God for guidance
4. Implied is that when I knows what God’s will, intention, and guidance is, one will myself to follow it.
5. Also implied is I will myself to know God’s direction.
I make, I agree, I ask, I know, I follow.
The misuse of my willpower is
1. Reflexive bombardment of my problems – an aggressively reactive life.
2. Living without knowing what is best for me as a product of spiritual isolation.
3. Forcing my isolated self-will into the grand scheme of the Infinite Universe.
The fruit of this misuse, this exercise in isolation of self-will, robs one of self-confidence as you let yourself down, experiencing a life of frustration and exhaustion.
The Open Door of Step 3 is found in the writer’s faith assertion that seeking guidance of the Higher Power assures me that whatever my current situation is, it is exactly as it is supposed to be and is the best possible situation for me, because I will my life to be entrusted to the Care of God as I understand Him/Her.
Daily Reprieve 
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