Category: The Power Of Prayer

Another Christmas has finally arrived, where plenty of warm homes will see children delightfully ripping open presents with excitement and glee. Just as much as I’m sure there will be many others where only grown-ups will be exchanging presents with each other as well. Soon bellies will also be full for both the young and the old from those large holiday meals.

But what about those on this day who have no place to call home and are out there roaming the streets?

And what about those that have a home but with no food to put on their table today?

And what about those that had no money to buy their children or loved ones any gifts to open today?

And what about those that have nobody to spend today with at all?

It’s so easy to forget about anyone who is less fortunate than ourselves while soaking up all that we have on days like today. I personally remember a very lonely December 25th spent in a Chinese restaurant, ultimately friendless and present-less. I’m grateful I’m not in that place in life anymore, given I have a partner that I love dearly who I’ll be spending this day with, as well as with many others in recovery I’ll be seeing at various Christmas parties I attend. But my heart is still saddened for all those on this day who may not have anyone or anything at all to look forward to. Thus, I feel led to write a prayer today for all those who may be less fortunate than myself, which I truly hope will inspire you to send out your own prayers for them as well…

“Dear God, I pray for all of those out there today that may be homeless. May you guide each of them to places where they are embraced and kept warm. I pray for all of those today that may not have a single gift to open as well. May you provide each of them the best gift of all, which is an abundance of your unconditional love. I pray for all of those today too that may not have any food whatsoever to put on their table. May you lead each of them to places that will give them a bountiful and delicious meal for free. And lastly, I pray for all of those today that are lonely and have no one to spend it with at all. May you bring each of them some loving companionship, as I don’t believe you would want any of your children to be alone on this special day. Please bless us all God and help us to be grateful for what we have today and not what we don’t, and please bless those who may be less fortunate than ourselves, as they too deserve everything each of us have in life as well. I’m truly grateful for my own life God and for what I’ve been given. Thank You for everything and Merry Christmas! Amen.”

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

Have you ever had one of those days where you felt so irritable that you ended up starting arguments with just about everyone you came around? I have because today was definitely one of them and I know I could have handled things so much better than I did. But thankfully I’ve learned in 12 Step Recovery from my addictions that I can begin anew at any time, which is what I’m trying to do right now as I compose this entry.

There was actually a common theme to each of the arguments I started over the course of this off-kilter day. In every case, it was my expectations that weren’t being met with how I wanted people to treat me. The key word I need to pay the most attention to here is “expectations”, as it is they that have always been the thing to lead me into having some serious resentments. While it was my ego’s natural inclination to be upset at the lack of integrity and unconditional love I felt from people today, all of that was based upon expectations I had placed upon everyone.

Normally I’m much better at preventing myself from creating expectations like this these days, but unfortunately, today just wasn’t one of them. Whether that was due to my nightmare-laden and restless sleep from the night before, the high levels of physical pain I had throughout the day, or something else altogether, I can’t say. Regardless, I didn’t disseminate the peace, love, light, and joy today that I usually try to every single day. I’m sure part of that, if not all of it, was due to me not taking a few extra moments to pray and ask for help. For some reason, I carried the burden mostly on my own today and that didn’t pay off too well.

It was clearly a good reminder though of how my days used to be for me when I didn’t allow God to be in charge of much of my life. The result of living that way when I did was no different than the brief taste I got from it today, which was a stomach full of poison in the form of ugly resentments. Having that inside me right now really doesn’t feel good at all and the only way I know how to change that and begin anew is to pray, so here goes nothing…

“Dear God, I took my will back today again and again and again. I placed expectations on people that I honestly can’t say I know all that’s going on within each of them. I became resentful in the process and I know that doesn’t bode well for the spiritual path I’m trying so desperately to remain on. So I ask for Your forgiveness for any pain or harm my words may have brought any of Your children today and I also ask that each of those people forgive me as well. Help me God to be free of any resentments I may have put back within me today. I unconditionally love and forgive myself for falling short of my spiritual ideal today and thank You God for helping me to begin anew once again.”

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson

When something starts consuming my thinking and bothering me quite a bit, I usually start trying to turn it over to my Higher Power by praying about it. I’ve had to do this rather frequently lately with a situation dealing with a very close friend of mine who has been keeping his distance from me.

While my friend’s lack of communication has seriously challenged my levels of patience, love and tolerance, there is a piece of why it’s happening that I do own. I used to demonstrate a tremendous amount of selfishness and self-centeredness with him over the course of most of the years we’ve been friends. He always forgave me though, but deep down I always believed it would probably one day resurface within him. Although I made my formal amends from these former behaviors with him almost two years ago now, moving away to a new area and not having the constant contact with him somehow has brought it all back up within him again. At this time, I know there’s nothing more I can do other than turn it over to my Higher Power by praying about it. That’s why I decided today I would write the following prayer for reconciliation with this friend. But please know that you may use it as well, if you should ever find yourself in a similar situation one day…

“Dear God, I miss (Person’s Name) greatly. I know I’ve caused some extensive damage to our relationship over the years, but I believe I’m doing my best now to rectify that. I honestly don’t know what more I can do to help (him/her) see that though, other than what I’m already doing. Not hearing from (him/her) has seriously been challenging me on every level to not get angry, and the longer it continues to go on, the more it seems to be making that happen. I don’t want to be angry God, but I don’t understand how I’m supposed to proceed forward in this situation, so I’m asking for Your assistance. I fully turn this problem over to You now and ask that You help (Person’s Name) find total forgiveness in his heart and soul for all the harm I’ve caused (him/her) since the beginning. I ask that You support (him/her) with whatever work (he/she) needs to do within (himself/herself) to get there, so that (he/she) may find the peace inside (he/she) truly deserves. It’s also my hope that You will guide us both to reconciliation, but I completely accept that whatever happens from this point forward is Your will. Until then, I thank You for any guidance and direction You end up sending me on how to handle this. I love you God. Amen.”

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson