October 7: Just for Today meditation, read by Sabina

Just for Today meditation for October 7, read by Sabina

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October 7

Depending on our Higher Power

"As recovering addicts, we find that we are still dependent, but our dependence has shifted from the things around us to a loving God and the inner strength we get in our relationship with Him."

Basic Text pp. 67-68

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For many addicts, rebelliousness is second nature. We didn't want to depend on anyone or anything, and especially not on God. The beauty of using, we thought, was that it gave us the power to be and feel anything we wanted, all by ourselves.

But the price we paid for this illusory freedom was a dependence beyond our worst nightmares. Rather than freeing us, using enslaved us.

When we came to Narcotics Anonymous, we learned that dependence on God didn't have to mean what we may have thought it meant. Yes, if we wanted to be restored to sanity, we would need to tap "a Power greater than ourselves." However, we could choose our own concept of this Higher Power-we could even make one up.

Dependence on a Higher Power would not limit us, we discovered; it would free us.

The Power we find in recovery is the power we lacked on our own. It is the love we were afraid to depend on others for. It is the sense of personal direction we never had, the guidance we couldn't humble ourselves to ask for or trust others to give. It is all these things, and it is our own. Today, we are grateful to have a Higher Power to depend on.

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Just for today:

I will depend on the love and inner strength I draw from the God of my own understanding.

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© NA World Services

This podcast is not affiliated with Narcotics Anonymous, and is an independent production of the Works of Wisdom

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is your Just For Today episode featuring a recovering
addict. Hi, my name is Sabina.

(00:24):
My clean date is September 9th, 2000.
You're listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.
This is the Just for today, for October 7th.
Depending on our higher power. As recovering addicts, we find
that we are still dependent, butour dependence has shifted from

(00:48):
the things around us to a lovingGod and the inner strength we
get in our relationship with Him.
Basic text page 71. For many addicts, rebelliousness
is a second nature. We didn't want to depend on
anyone or anything, and especially not on God.

(01:08):
The beauty of using, we thought,was that it gave us the power to
be and feel anything we wanted all by ourselves.
But the price we paid for this illusory freedom was a
dependence beyond our worst nightmares.
Rather than freeing us, using enslaved us.
When we came to Narcotics Anonymous, we learned that

(01:31):
dependence on God didn't have tomean what we may have thought it
meant. Yes, if we wanted to be restored
to sanity, we would need a tap, a power greater than ourselves.
However, we could choose our ownconcept of this higher power.
We could even make one up. Dependence on a higher power

(01:53):
would not limit us, we discovered.
It would free us. The power we find in recovery is
the power we lacked on our own. It is the love we were afraid to
depend on others for. It is the sense of personal
direction we never had, the guidance we couldn't humble
ourselves to ask for and trust others to give.

(02:15):
It is all these things and it isour own to day.
We are grateful to have a higherpower to depend on.
Just for to day I will depend onthe love and inner strength I
draw from the God of my own understanding.
The Voices of Recovery Podcast is an independent production of

(02:38):
the Works of Wisdom. We welcome your questions and
donations via PayPal at [e-mail].
This podcast is an independent production and is not affiliated
with, associated with, authorized by, endorsed by, or
in any way officially connected with Narcotics Anonymous or any
of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

(02:59):
While any literature may be readduring episodes for the purpose
of supporting recovery, such usedoes not constitute an official
endorsement or representation byNarcotics Anonymous.
In accordance with any tradition, the NA name is not to
be used to endorse or be affiliated with any outside
enterprise, and no such endorsement or affiliation is
implied. Music is by SAGE.

(03:20):
Thanks for listening to the Voices of Recovery podcast.