Keep It Simple!
The GOD Thing. . .
Consider in early recovery the Spirit of Your Conscience, as a vehicle
to communicate with a Higher Power ... as you understand Him ... Or Don't
understand Him... It dwells in each of us, with few exceptions. We just have to Learn to Listen. Below is 'Seventeen'
examples of the location of the words ... Conscious, Conscience, and Consciousness ... as they are contained in the Basic Text of our Big Book, through page 164...
Page 13: Chapter 1: Bill's Story [Step 1]
...I was to test my thinking by the new God-conscious-ness within. Common
sense would thus become uncommon sense. I was to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only
for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never was I to pray
for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others. Then only might I
expect to receive.
Page 24:
Chapter 2: There Is A Solution
...The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of
choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable,
at certain times, to bring into our consciousness
with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and
humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first
drink.
Page 25:
...We were in a position where life was becoming impossible, and if we had passed into the
region from which there is no return through human aid, we had but two alternatives: One
was to go on to the bitter end, blotting out the consciousness of our
intolerable situation as best we could; and the other, to accept spiritual help.
Page 47:
Chapter 4: We Agnostics [Step 2]
...Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you
from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you. At the start, this was all we needed
to commence spiritual growth, to effect our first conscious relation with God as we understood Him. Afterward, we found
ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach. That was growth,
but if we wished to grow we had to begin somewhere. So we used our own conception,
however limited it was.
Page 51:
...Leaving aside the drink question, they tell why living was so unsatisfactory. They show how the change came over them. When
many hundreds of people are able to say that the consciousness of the Presence
of God is today the most important fact of their lives, they present a powerful reason
why one should have faith.
Page 55:
...If our testimony helps sweep away prejudice, enables you to think honestly, encourages
you to search diligently within yourself, then, if you wish, you can join us on the Broad
Highway. With this attitude you cannot fail. The consciousness of your belief
is sure to come to you. In this book you will read the experience of a man who thought he
was an atheist. His story is so interesting that some of it should be told now. His change
of heart was dramatic, convincing, and moving.
Page 56:
...The barriers he had built through the years
were swept away. He stood in the Presence of Infinite Power and Love. He had stepped from
bridge to shore. For the first time, he lived in conscious companionship with
his Creator. Thus was our friend's cornerstone fixed in place. No later vicissitude has
shaken it. His alcoholic problem was taken away. That very night, years ago, it
disappeared.
Page 59:
Chapter 5: How It Works [Step 3]
...Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as
we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Page 63:
...More and more we became interested in seeing what we could
contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we
discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence,
we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. We were reborn. We were
now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: "God, I offer
myself to Thee---to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt...
Page 85:
Chapter 6: Into Action [Step 10]
...Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and
power. If we have carefully followed directions, we have begun to sense the flow of His
Spirit into us. To some extent we have become God-conscious. We have begun
to develop this vital 'Sixth Sense.' But we must go further and that means more action.
Page 87:
Chapter 6 Into Action [Step 11]
...What used to be the hunch or the occasional inspiration gradually becomes a working
part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with
God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for
this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our
thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to
rely upon it...
Page 95:
Chapter 7: Working With Others [Step 12]
...If he thinks he can do the job in some other way, or prefers some other
spiritual approach, encourage him to follow his own conscience. We have no monopoly on God; we merely have an approach that
worked with us. But point out that we alcoholics have much in common and that you would
like, in any case, to be friendly. Let it go at that.
Page 98:
...Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The
only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. Now, the domestic problem: There
may be divorce, separation, or just strained relations. When your prospect has made such
reparation as he can to his family, and has thoroughly explained to them the new
principles by which he is living, he should proceed to put those principles into action
at home...
Page 115:
Chapter 8: To Wives
...Barriers which have sprung up between you and your friends will disappear with the growth of
sympathetic understanding. You will no longer be self-conscious or feel that you must
apologize as though your husband were a weak character. He may be anything but that.
Your new courage, good nature and lack of self-consciousness will do wonders
for you socially. The same principle applies in dealing with the children.
Page 130:
Chapter 9: The Family Afterward
...Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have
eventually seen the childishness of it. This dream world has been replaced by a great
sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness
of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe
He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be
firmly planted on earth.
Page 132:
...We intend the foregoing as a helpful suggestion only. So far as we are
concerned, there is nothing obligatory about it. As non-denominational people, we cannot
make up others' minds for them. Each individual should consult his own conscience. We have been
speaking to you of serious, sometimes tragic things. We have been dealing with alcohol in
its worst aspect. But we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our
existence, they wouldn't want it...
Keep It Simple . . . Let Your god-Conscious-ness Be Your Guide!
