One day at a time.

Red A. · #1 24th September 2011, 12:42 AM

One day at a time is a tenant of the AA program that goes through something of a metamorphosis as you work the program. In the early days of sobriety one day at a time is something of a party trick to get through a few white knuckle days. However, the AA program is about more than just struggling from moment to moment, this is about quitting for good and all.

Today is one thing that this disease took from me. While drinking, my life was a bitter hostile place to be. The drinking was killing me but the noise in my head was killing me faster. Party tricks would work only for just so long, This had to change for me to stay sober and sane for any significant amount of time.

Once you reach the fourth step 'one day at a time' really blossoms into an anchor point of sobriety. If you look at the first major categories of the 4th step, they are resentment and fear. These things rob me of any peace in my life today as resentment is all about the past and fear is almost always about the future. This is a large part of what makes right here right now a horrible place to live.

When I am not at peace in today I can look for these two defects and go to god for help to remove the culprit. When I shake off the chains of the past and slip free of the yoke of the future I can finally live my life one day at a time, I can live in today, and when it comes down to it that's what the AA program gives me, today, remember that death owns the past and death owns the future, today is all we really have.

dark.lightning · #2 25th September 2011, 11:11 PM

You seem to have a good view of your situation. It's good to know that you can go to God. He is the Almighty father in heaven who is perfect. He is always willing to help, as long as you're willing to listen. I hope you continue to succeed in everything you've been able to do so far, and I hope you can achieve the goals you haven't passed yet.
Dark Lightning

If Not For Grace · #3 2nd October 2011, 09:30 PM

ODAT is FAR from a party Trick. It is about revelation. When we TRULY realize that TODAY is all we have we are free to change our life focus. Dealing with today and today only keeps me sane. That Is how I can deal with those two defects you mention. It is a shame to waste the only time I have which is NOW with resentment or to be paralyzed by fear or base today's actions on a reaction to either.

We have a slogan that says Live & Let Live...There should be a colon after Live.. for that is where I need to put my focus. On Living not merely existing. When I follow the Just For Today Plan I find the rest usuallly takes care of itself without me giving it much thought.

I am Thankful for Today.

Apostle Trevor · #4 4th October 2011, 07:02 PM

The problem with those 12steps is they have turned there backs on the scriptural principles they was founded upon Idk how well your meetings go with allowing Jesus Christ to be praised... If you seek a Christ centered program seek a celebrate recovery its not a secular program and your free to praise speak and seek Jesus... And one day at a time is good for short term results but John bevere points out that the bible states how each action should be based off of eternal motives all believers will stand before the judgment seat judge for every action done in the body both good and evil but I am court ordered to 4 meetings a week I prefer the Christ centered meetings because its more acceptable of the healing power of Christ and who he says we are not in being addicts or what not but that we are righteous and can be holy as he is holy

Red A. · #5 4th October 2011, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Apostle Trevor

The problem with those 12steps is they have turned there backs on the scriptural principles they was founded upon Idk how well your meetings go with allowing Jesus Christ to be praised... If you seek a Christ centered program seek a celebrate recovery its not a secular program and your free to praise speak and seek Jesus... And one day at a time is good for short term results but John bevere points out that the bible states how each action should be based off of eternal motives all believers will stand before the judgment seat judge for every action done in the body both good and evil but I am court ordered to 4 meetings a week I prefer the Christ centered meetings because its more acceptable of the healing power of Christ and who he says we are not in being addicts or what not but that we are righteous and can be holy as he is holy

Ya know, if you are going to speak out for Christ you should work on being a little less offensive.

Apostle Trevor · #6 4th October 2011, 07:55 PM

That's true It's jus soo hard to preach the word without offending someone there's soo many false doctrines out there ya know and as Christian we have a duty to speak out against them to make sure that the one true gospel is preached we will all be held accountable for the things we have done as started as a Christian program but now they won't even let you speak the name of Jesus... They look down upon me when I speak of him and my deliverance from drugs alcohol and cigarettes I try to witness to them everyday...

If Not For Grace · #7 2nd November 2011, 04:11 AM

Well it takes all kinds-I prefer the Spiritually based program so that I am granted the
freedom from Proselytizing from the tight faced KJV Only types. I have found nothing in the 12-steps that is not based in Christianity. If Jesus is your higher power, then all the "A" programs are Christ Centered.

Being a living witness is much better than being a preaching billboard and these are not evangelistic meetings and I'm so thankful for that. People are not brought to
Christ by offense, but by love. Many people w/go to a secular meeting opposed to
a church based meeting and once you have some time in the program I find you
have more opportunity and revelation available to lead folks to Jesus than you ever will from a pulpit or pew.

Don't cross the stream to find water..

madison1101 · #8 2nd November 2011, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Apostle Trevor

The problem with those 12steps is they have turned there backs on the scriptural principles they was founded upon Idk how well your meetings go with allowing Jesus Christ to be praised... If you seek a Christ centered program seek a celebrate recovery its not a secular program and your free to praise speak and seek Jesus... And one day at a time is good for short term results but John bevere points out that the bible states how each action should be based off of eternal motives all believers will stand before the judgment seat judge for every action done in the body both good and evil but I am court ordered to 4 meetings a week I prefer the Christ centered meetings because its more acceptable of the healing power of Christ and who he says we are not in being addicts or what not but that we are righteous and can be holy as he is holy

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The One Day at a Time saying is rooted in the Sermon on the Mount.

I don't need my AA meetings to praise and speak about Jesus. I need them to stay sober and help another alcoholic. The AA preamble says that is what the purpose of AA is. I can praise and speak about Jesus in my personal relationships, which I develop in AA.

Right now, I am mentoring a baby Christian I met in AA. She needs a Christian alcoholic to show her how the Lord got them sober, and keeps them sober. I am always teaching her scriptures and exhorting her how to be a Christian mother.

In AA meetings, I am free to talk about how God is revealing Himself to me as I stay sober.

I do not believe in Holy Huddle Christianity, and certainly do not need Holy Huddle Recovery.

I go to Bible studies and worship services to praise the Lord and speak about Jesus.

If Not For Grace · #9 4th November 2011, 03:04 PM

I do not believe in Holy Huddle Christianity, and certainly do not need Holy Huddle Recovery.

I'd personally like to send the OWS crowd to the HH'rs-If u ck out the
Websites or blogs they'll all have a "like" button, but they do not give a
"disklike" option-now that's HUUDDLLED!

brainstormer · #10 14th March 2012, 12:49 PM

One can go to both AA and CR...in fact, the CR group in a metro area I know about only has four people with more than 3 years of sobriety...this is a group that has about 300 newcomers a year....three of those 4 have had a strong AA background. Things are different for addicts than most "church people." We all wish it was different. You just can't beat AA's track record. Why not serve Christ by being a light in AA? They sure need it. The fact is the Grapevine magazine itself is in danger of no longer existing because of it's huge budget (glossy pages, etc.). AA needs our prayer.