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The book says to list our fears, then ask why we have them. The answer of course is because self-reliance has failed. The prayer is "Dear God, please remove this fear of___and direct my attention to what you would have me BE (not do).
An example from my recent inventory:
I am afraid of being broke.
Why? Because I'll feel bad
My creditors will harrass me.
I'll be homeless
All this work will be for nothing
My life will mean nothing
Everyone will think I'm a loser and abandon me and I will end up
Alone (the root fear behind every other fear that human beings experience)
Notice how the why column just keeps going deeper into fear? And I make decisions based on these self-centered fears that cause harm and put me in the position to be hurt.
Where has self-reliance failed me? In other words what do I selfishly want?
I use money to feel good. For emotional security.
I use money to look good.
I want the money for myself.
I need this money more than I need God
"Dear God please remove this fear of being broke and direction my attention to what You would have me be."
What would God have me be? Not do. We are human beings, not human doings. Our doing comes from our being.
God would have me be: Honest
Thrifty
Generous
A good steward of what passes through my hands.
Jim
Any quotes from Alcoholics Anonymous, First Edition
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