NA Daily Meditations

NA Meitations

Feel free to read one of our 2 daily meditations.

Just For Today
Spiritual Principle A Day

Just For Today

January 06, 2026

How does it work?

Page 6

“I used to think that I had all the answers, but today I am glad that I don’t.“

What are the two favorite words of most addicts? “I know!” Unfortunately, many of us arrive in NA thinking we have all the answers. We have a lot of knowledge about what’s wrong with us. But in and of itself, knowledge never helped us stay clean for any length of time.

Members who have achieved long-term recovery will be the first to admit that the longer they are here, the more they have to learn. But they do know one thing: By following this simple Twelve Step program, they have been able to stay clean. They no longer ask “why”; they ask “how.” The value of endless speculation pales in comparison to the experience of addicts who’ve found a way to stay clean and live clean.

This doesn’t mean we don’t ask “why” when it’s appropriate. We don’t come to NA and stop thinking! But in the beginning, it’s often a very good idea to reword our questions. Instead of asking “why,” we ask “how.” How do I work this step? How often should I attend meetings? How do I stay clean?

Just for Today: I don’t have all the answers, but I know where to find the ones that matter. Today, I will ask another addict, “How does it work?”

Spiritual Principal A Day

January 07, 2026

Faith in the Program and Each Other

Page 7

“Faith is what keeps us doing the footwork even when we can’t see the reason.”

Living Clean, Chapter 1, “Growing Pains”

Many of us were fine with living a philosophy of “act now, ask questions later” in our addiction. We did what we had to do–the footwork of using, perhaps–and had a certain degree of faith within the chaos of that lifestyle. But we don’t necessarily bring those bold tactics into early recovery. Why then is it so difficult for many of us to have faith and get on board with NA from day one? Maybe it’s that we didn’t know what we wanted. We thought we’d found what we wanted in drugs, but total abstinence seemed unlikely and long-term recovery unfathomable. Yes, we want a better life, but who doesn’t?

It’s suggested we go to meetings. Help set up the room. Read the book. Call a member when we’re feeling squirrelly. Ask someone to be our sponsor so they can take us through those unfathomable Twelve Steps. We also think, This works for you, but what if it doesn’t for me? And why do you seem so sure it will?

A lot of us would say the reasons are evident. Here are a bunch of addicts who didn’t use today, who set up and ran a meeting that started and ended on time. They shared their experience, strength, and hope. They griped about their day but stayed clean anyway. They were joyful with each other, celebrating recovery milestones with gratitude. When speaking, most expressed their faith in the program and in each other.

At some point, we made a decision to do the footwork without a clear picture of our destination. Why? Some of us are so desperate we’ll do anything to stop the pain. For others, it’s a lightning-bolt spiritual awakening, a moment of clarity. Some of us take tiny steps or have many moments of clarity. Others find a single person to trust, and that drives our decision. Still others cling to our rebelliousness and then find ourselves celebrating a year clean, then five years, then a quarter-century. No matter what kicks it off, this decision is, for many of us, our first experience of faith. We hear that more will be revealed, and more is.

I see abundant evidence around me that NA works. I just need a bit of faith every day to keep me willing to follow my path of recovery.