"It is important for you to know that you will hear God mentioned at NA meetings. What we are referring to is a Power greater than ourselves that makes possible what seems impossible."
IP No. 22, Welcome to NA
Most of us come to Narcotics Anonymous with a variety of preconceptions about what the word "God" means, many of them negative. Yet the "G" word is used very regularly in NA, if not constantly. It occurs 92 times in the first 102 pages of our Basic Text, and appears prominently in a third of our Twelve Steps. Rather than sidestep the sensitivity many of us feel toward the word, let's address it head on.
It's true that Narcotics Anonymous is a spiritual program. Our Twelve Steps offer a way to find freedom from addiction through the help of a spiritual Power greater than we are. The program, however, doesn't tell us anything about what we have to think about that Power. In fact, over and over again, in our literature and our meetings, we hear it said, "the God of our understanding" - whatever that understanding may be.
We use the word "God" because it's used in our Basic Text and because it communicates most effectively to most people a basic understanding of the Power underlying our recovery. The word, we use for the sake of convenience. The Power behind the word, however, we use for more than convenience. We use that Power to maintain our freedom from addiction and to ensure our ongoing recovery.
Just for Today: Whether I believe in "God" or not, I will use the Power that keeps me clean and free
I love having a higher power in my life. This has only happened since discovering Narcotics Anonymous. It is through my conscious contact with Him that my life gets better. Just for today.
Its true,God is your own concept,our literature tells us that....I remember an old timer saying that you dont have to 'worry' about the word God, that doesn't appear in our actual steps until step 3,he says by then hopefully you will have worked with a sponsor long enough to no longer fear that word and have developed your own relationship!
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
It is so great to have that higher power in my life. He keeps me strong and clean! Just for today he has kept me clean and sober once again. Thank you God for all you do for me and thank you for the ones on this board to be able to share our stories with and have support from!
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If you question which way to go on a road turn one direction and start going, if you don't feel peace then turn around and go another direction for its when you feel peace you know you are on the right road!
