“What do you think of God,” the teacher asked. After a pause, the young pupil replied, “He’s not a think, he’s a feel.” – Paul Frost

“If our approach to God rested on how much brain power we could summon, a lot of us would be in trouble. We can’t think our way to God. We have to feel our way there.”

I don’t have to use my intelligence to get to God. I only have to want God in my life.

– “In God’s Care*: Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery,” June 11
*As We Understand God

It’s true that when I was a devout atheist, I was searching for proof of God’s existence through my intellect. Not only was the idea of God as postulated by the religions I was familiar with make little sense—in fact, were contradictory—but looking through a lens of logic and the philosophical arguments of respected scholars over the ages failed to prove the existence of God.

Yet, joining and working a 12 Step program gave me the evidence I needed. But it was combined with a feeling too.

Hearing the stories of miracles and seeing the transformation of individuals gave me the logical proof of God’s existence, albeit not what I had envisioned. They also pierced through to my heart, and I reached the point where I could easily believe in a Power greater than myself—called “God” by many, but any other name that was comfortable—and so very much wanted that Power in my life. It was no longer a matter of logic or intellect. It felt so great to have a way of living that worked, and it was due to the 12 Step philosophy and fellowship opening me up to a concept of God that worked for me in my life. But I need to remember that it all is of Spirit, my intellect and my heart.

I could not solely use my intelligence to get to God as much as I tried. I needed to be open, to feel, to surrender. With that, Spirit was able to make Its Presence known to me and I embraced It.