It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. (AA, pg 85)
There is no rest in AA.
The program rests everything on the Alcoholic, who every day brings into his life a tired, empty vision of "What does God want me to do?"
How to know the voice of God, how to discern the truth of God speaking to the member, such information is never revealed.
Never.
This program is just plain frustrating, and on purpose.
The program from the beginning is designed to keep people dependent, to keep them coming back, and when they fail, to let them know that they simply did not work the program hard enough, well enough, were simply not rigorously honest enough with themselves:
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest. (AA, pg 58)
Whatever this Higher Power claims to be for most, the program of AA still takes precedence, and thus the power remains in the group, and away from the individual.
While the Twelve Steps demands more from people, Jesus is all give:
"31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? " (Romans 8: 31-32)
and
"20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
"13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4: 13)
and
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)
and
"14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5: 14-15)
Forget about any conception of God. Believe on Jesus, the Perfect Man at the Father's Right Hand, and receive all things through Him!
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