One of our greatest spiritual dangers, especially as we walk the steps of our recovery, is “stinking thinking.” Delusion comes in many forms. One false thought is the conviction that God cannot or will not help us. When we think that way, we tend to allow ourselves to be dominated by fear—fear of relapse, fear of the past, fear of guilt, fear of embarrassment, fear of loneliness, fear of personal relationships, fear of being hurt again, fear of accidents. Whatever terror haunts us can lead to “stinking consequences.”

When we think that God cannot or will not help us, we leave ourselves wide open to these fearsome results. However, when we are convinced that God’s power is greater than any evil that could befall us, we can live with confidence and hope. We can also distinguish between fear and sober precaution. Fear paralyzes and drives us. Precaution “leads us not into temptation and delivers us from evil”; with it we avoid foolish mistakes and keep on the safe steps of our program. A cautious person thinks clearly, sees real danger, and can take reasonable risks.

When we are sure that “the whole world is in God’s hands” we can stand fast with Saint Paul when he said, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8-28). What is God’s purpose? Is it not that we should love him and trust him? Love and trust make no room for fear. So, listen to Jesus, when he tells us, “Do not be afraid; . . . I am with you always” (Matt. 28:10, 20).

Lord, keep my thinking clear of fear and full of proper caution. Help me took to you in love and trust and not give way to worry and anxiety. Amen.

January 24

What if we don’t have peace? How can we give what we do not have? We get it from Jesus. He gives it. We receive it. The Prince of Peace gives us a peace beyond understanding.

How do we go about receiving such peace? By asking for it. By letting go of our discontent and our troubled hearts. We have so little confidence in our own self-worth that we are never content with the way we and others are.

Yet our discontent can work for us too. Our sense of uneasiness can be so great that we become exhausted and just quit! That’s a wonderful place to start! Rather than remaining restless we can rest in Christ. We can place our concerns in his lap. This will take the focus off ourselves and others and place it on our Lord.

Christ has what we desire. He can calm our troubled and fearful hearts. He has soothing words for each of us. He yearns for us to take what he has for us—his peace.

O, Prince of Peace, give me the peace you have just for me. Help me receive it as the gift it is. Amen.

January 25

It is amazing how little control Jesus exerted over others. His power was the power of attraction, not force or manipulation. He held out an invitation, not a weapon. When his followers saw someone doing good works and healing without using Jesus’ name, he told his disciples to “let them be.” If they are doing good, that is to everyone’s benefit, even if they don’t seem to have the right credentials.

How different we often are! We try to get people to do it our way or to follow our rules. Forcing others into our mold just does not work. Applauding and accepting others’ good results and appreciating the distinct differences in people is much more productive.

It is so easy to give advice and try to shape others into our own idea of recovery. Is your friend abstinent and sober? Are the other members of your group more open, secure, and loving? Are they growing in confidence and enthusiasm for the Twelve Steps? Well, that’s all that matters! They are with us, not against us.

Lord Christ, help me to be at ease with others and with their ways of recovery. Keep me from my own harsh judgments of others in recovery. Amen.