Bill Wilson advises caution in relying on our spiritual intuitions, especially in the early days.
Father Bill W. from Texas is reviving the Oxford Group practice of Guidance, rebranding the practice as Two Way Pray (twowayprayer.org). In ‘two-way prayer,’ we ask God for Guidance, then listen for the answer; it is two-way communication.
The answer often comes as intuition; the Ninth Step Promises intuitive solutions for problems that used to baffle us.
But we are human and alcoholics. We can intuit some strange conclusions. And convinced that we hear God, we take no half measures.
As Father Bill W points out, the Oxford Groupers checked the Guidance they thought they received from God, sharing their intuitions to help avoid intuitive spiritual leaps to wrong places. They would share the intuitions that they received, and the listeners would consider the matter and give their views.
In the past, I have intuitively known what to do with situations that used to baffle me; then acted on these intuitions to my regret. After burning my fingers several times, I learned to check first. I learned to look before I leap.
Like many AAs, a group of us have started a weekly meeting to share and check our intuition. We commit to a daily Guidance session, asking God questions. Like Oxforders, we write down both the questions we face and the answers that we feel/hear/sense.
Once a week, we meet online and share what we think we have intuited from God; looking before we leap.
Recently, one of us was conflicted; the right path was unclear. He took the matter to God, then checked with us. Listening to him, we felt that the intuition was not sound. That slowed him down, and he used the time to do more research and prayer. Over time a different impulse and new direction emerged. He leaped, but instead of leaping into the unknown, he had a better idea of the future.
Now time will tell, but that was a real-time experience of seeking Guidance. Even if God was not involved, the quality of the decision was improved with time, research, and thought.
Following a two-way prayer path and looking before leaping is good business regardless of whether the answer is from God or not.
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