Twenty-Four Hours a Day - Hardcover

Hazelden Publishing

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0866835008 ISBN 13: 9780866835008

Publisher: Winston Pr, 1985

Synopsis

Since 1954, Twenty-Four Hours a Day has become a stable force in the recovery of many alcoholics throughout the world. With over nine million copies in print (the original text has been revised), this "little black book" offers daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers for living a clean and sober life. A spiritual resource with practical applications to fit our daily lives.

"For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision" is part of the Sanskrit proverb quoted at the beginning of the book which has become one of the basic building blocks for a life of sobriety. In addition to a thought, meditation and prayer for each day of the year, this handy, pocket-sized volume also contains the Serenity Prayer and the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is a simple, yet effective way to help us relate the Twelve Steps to everyday life and helps us find the power not to take that first drink each day.

About this title

About the Author

On the surface, the life that Mr. Reggie Smith is presently living seems quite unassuming. He is married for 25 years, the father or four children, three grandchildren and lives quietly in their tree-lined subdivision in Cobb County Georgia. That just goes to prove the point that Mr. Smith is making. The point that Reggie makes more loudly with his life, than he could ever say with words, is that there is a great deal going on in our families and communities that we are not talking about and people are dying needlessly from STIGMA, and the lack of information. You see, Mr. Smith is among the more than 1 million (registered) people in the United States living with HIV. There are many more that may be infected without knowing. There are many who know and because of fear of stigmatization don't say anything about it publicly. Yes, Reggie Smith, author of the much loved book "Surrender To Heal" - 7 Ways To Rise Above The Battlefield Of Life, is a long time survivor of HIV/AIDS. He asserts that there are many long-term survivors who have been having success using a holistic approach to healing and his life is certainly proof that it works! Hailing from the mean streets of the Southside of Jamaica, Queens (NY), the neighborhood that produced L.L.Cool J, Russell Simmons, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, he survived the war that was waged against young black men in urban America, only to find himself, like many of his peers, a potential casualty to biological terrorism. The devastation of AIDS in our society, especially in the Black community, has created an ongoing post-traumatic stress reaction not unlike that of September 11th and the DC Sniper, except it is much more pervasive and cost our society much more in the way of financial and human capital. In the midst of this pandemic, it is incredible that there has been no public outcry loud enough to shift the priorities from war and destruction, to healthy dialogue concerning a greater shift in human policy.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Twenty-Four Hours a Day is intended for members of Alcoholics Anonymous as a help in their program of living one day at a time. It is designed for those who want to start each day with a few minutes of thought, meditation, and prayer.

These daily readings contain most of the material used in the booklet "For Drunks Only" and other AA literature; also some passages from "the Big Book," Alcoholics Anonymous.

As a basis for the meditations in this book, the author has used many passages from the book, God Calling by Two Listeners, edited by A. J. Russell. Permission to use the universal spiritual thoughts expressed in this book, without using direct quotations, has been granted by Dodd, Mead & Co., New York City.

The author hopes that these daily readings may help members of Alcoholics Anonymous to find the power they need to stay sober each twenty-four hours. If we don't take that first drink today, we'll never take it, because it's always today.

January 1
A.A. Thought for the Day
When I came into A.A., was I a desperate person? Did I have a soul-sickness? Was I so sick of myself and my way of living that I couldn't stand looking at myself in a mirror? Was I ready for A.A.? Was I ready to try anything that would help me to get sober and to get over my soul-sickness? Should I ever forget the condition I was in?

Meditation for the Day
In the new year, I will live one day at a time. I will make each day one of preparation for better things ahead. I will not dwell on the past or the future, only on the present. I will bury every fear of the future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, all my dislikes, my resentments, my sense of failure, my disappointments in others and in myself, my gloom and my despondency. I will leave all these things buried and go forward, in this new year, into a new life.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that God will guide me one day at a time in the new year. I pray that for each day, God will supply the wisdom and the strength that I need.

January 2
A.A. Thought for the Day
What makes A.A. work? The first thing is to have a revulsion against myself and my way of living. Then I must admit I was helpless, that alcohol had me licked and I couldn't do anything about it. The next thing is to honestly want to quit the old life. Then I must surrender my life to a Higher Power, put my drinking problem in His hands and leave it there. After these things are done, I should attend meetings regularly for fellowship and sharing. I should also try to help other alcoholics. Am I doing these things?

Meditation for the Day
You are so made that you can only carry the weight of twenty-four hours, no more. If you weigh yourself down with the years behind and the days ahead, your back breaks. God has promised to help with the burdens of the day only. If you are foolish enough to gather again that burden of the past and carry it, then indeed you cannot expect God to help you bear it. So forget that which lies behind you and breathe in the blessing of each new day.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may realize that, for good or bad, past days have ended. I pray that I may face each new day, the coming twenty-four hours, with hope and courage.

January 3
A.A. Thought for the Day
When I came into A.A., I learned what an alcoholic was and then I applied this knowledge to myself to see if I was an alcoholic. When I was convinced that I was an alcoholic, I admitted it openly. Since then, have I been learning to live accordingly? Have I read the book Alcoholics Anonymous? Have I applied the knowledge gained to myself? Have I admitted openly that I am an alcoholic? Am I ready to admit it at any time when I can be of help?

Meditation for the Day
I will be renewed. I will be remade. In this, I need God's help. His spirit shall flow through me and, in flowing through me, it shall sweep away all the bitter past. I will take heart. The way will open for me. Each day will unfold something good, as long as I am trying to live the way I believe God wants me to live.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may be taught, just as a child would be taught. I pray that I may never question God's plans, but accept them gladly.

About this edition

• Publisher: Winston Pr
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0866835008
• ISBN 13: 9780866835008
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English