[MajestyJo]

Step Eleven: Sought through prayer and meditation to
improve our conscious contact with God as we
understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His
will for us and the power to carry that out.

Of course, it is reasonable and understandable that the
question is often asked: "Why can't we take a specific
and troubling dilemma straight to God, and in prayer
secure from Him sure and definite answers to our requests?"

This can be done, but it has hazards. We have seen AAs
ask with much earnestness and faith for God's explicit
guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or financial crisis to correcting a minor personal fault, like tardiness. Quite often, however, the thoughts that seem to come from God are not answers at all. They prove to be well-intentional, unconscious rationalizations. The AA, or indeed any man, who tries to run his life rigidly by this
kind of prayer, by this self-serving demand of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual. To any questioning or criticism of his actions he instantly proffers his reliance upon prayer for guidance in all matters great or small. He may have forgotten the possibility that his own wishful thinking and the human tendency to rationalize have distorted his so-called guidance. With the best of intentions, he tends to force his own will into all sorts of situations and problems with
the comfortable assurance that he is acting under God's
specific direction. Under such an illusion, he can of course create great havoc without in the least intending it.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pages 103-104

This was a good reminder for me. So often, I forget and play God with other people's lives thinking I know what is best for them. I now try to pray and ask God that He give them what they need for their Highest Good the same way I do for myself. As my sponsor said many years ago, "Ask for health, happiness, prosperity and a spiritual blessing and awareness and they can't continue doing what their doing. They are sure to change."

I know it changed me.