Chattanooga Area
of Narcotics Anonymous
Drug Problem?
Find a Meeting
August 10, 2026 |
Regular prayer and meditation |
| Page 232 |
| “Most of us pray when we are hurting. We learn that if we pray regularly, we won’t be hurting as often or as intensely.” |
| Basic Text, p. 45 |
| Regular prayer and meditation are two more key elements in our new pattern of living. Our active addiction was more than just a bad habit waiting to be broken by force of will. Our addiction was a negative, draining dependence that stole all our positive energy. That dependence was so total, it prevented us from developing any kind of reliance on a Higher Power. From the very beginning of our recovery, our Higher Power has been the force that’s brought us freedom. First, it relieved us of our compulsion to keep taking drugs, even when we knew they were killing us. Then, it gave us freedom from the more deeply ingrained aspects of our disease. Our Higher Power gave us the direction, the strength, and the courage to inventory ourselves; to admit out loud to another person what our lives had been like, perhaps for the first time; to begin seeking release from the chronic defects of character underlying our troubles; and, at last, to make amends for the wrongs we’d done. That first contact with a Higher Power, and that first freedom, has grown into a life full of freedom. We maintain that freedom by maintaining and improving our conscious contact with our Higher Power through regular prayer and meditation. |
| Just for Today: I will make a commitment to include regular prayer and meditation in my new pattern of living. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
August 10, 2026 |
To Be Both Willing and Humble |
| Page 230 |
| “Balancing willingness and humility means that we are able to step up to the work we are able to do, and also admit that sometimes we need help.” |
| Guiding Principles, Tradition Eight, “Spiritual Principles” |
| Recovery offers us many chances to adopt a realistic view of who we are. Humility deepens when we admit powerlessness in Step One, accept help in Steps Three and Seven, and get clarity about our assets and shortcomings in Steps Four, Six, and Ten. We continually gain experience sorting out what we can and can’t do for ourselves. Sometimes, we embrace our strengths or expand our capabilities. Other times, we accept our limitations. When deciding what we can realistically accomplish on our own, Tradition Eight reminds us to practice humility and prudence. That’s good advice for groups and service bodies, and it’s equally applicable for our personal lives. We strive to be self-supporting, as Tradition Seven suggests, but that doesn’t mean we’re self-sufficient. In NA and at home, humility helps us discern the difference. Making the NA message widely available often involves tasks or projects requiring more time or expertise than we have available. We can and do employ special workers for many functions in NA, from printing meeting directories to proofreading to navigating the rules of international trade. When it comes to demonstrating NA’s reliability and expanding access to our lifesaving message, it’s sometimes prudent to hire some help. Seeing our principles at work in NA service helps many of us learn to apply them in our personal lives. “I wanted to save money on a plumber by fixing a leak myself,” a member recalled. “My partner reminded me that I’d made several valiant attempts at home projects in the past year, and none turned out very well. If I want to become a fix-it person, I can make the time to take a class or get help from a friend. But while the water is leaking, I might just need to call an actual plumber.” That’s practicing willingness, self-support, and humility . . . all while preventing unnecessary catastrophe! |
| I don’t have to be capable of everything. If my needs or desires outweigh my ability, I will practice humility by asking for help. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
About NA
Anonymity
The basic premise of anonymity allows addicts to attend meetings without fear of legal or social repercussions. This is an important consideration for an addict thinking about going to a meeting for the first time. Anonymity also supports an atmosphere of equality in meetings. It helps insure that no individual’s personality or circumstance will be considered more important than the message of recovery shared in NA.
Who are members of NA?
Anyone who wants to stop using drugs may become a member of Narcotics Anonymous. Membership is not limited to addicts using any particular drug. Those who feel they may have a problem with drugs, legal or illegal, including alcohol, are welcome in NA. Recovery in NA focuses on the problem of addiction, not on any particular drug.
How does NA work?
Addicts helping each other recover are the foundation of NA. Members meet regularly to talk about their experiences in recovery. More experienced members (known as sponsors) work individually with newer members. The core of the NA program is the Twelve Steps. These “steps” are a set of guidelines outlining a practical approach to recovery. By following these guidelines and working closely with other members, addicts learn to stop using drugs and face the challenges of daily living.
Narcotics Anonymous is not a religious organization and does not mandate any particular belief system. It does teach basic spiritual principles such as honesty, open-mindedness, faith, willingness, and humility that may be applied in everyday life. The specific practical application of spiritual principles is determined by each individual. Recovery in NA is not a miracle cure that happens within a given period of time. It is a process, ongoing and personal. Members make an individual decision to join and recover at their own pace.
NA Meetings
Financial contributions from non-members are not accepted. Most NA meetings are held regularly at the same time and place each week, usually in a public facility. There are two basic types of meetings those that are open to the general public and those closed to the public (for addicts only). Meetings vary widely in format. Some formats are: participation, speaker, question and answer, topic discussion, and some have a combination of these formats. The function of any meeting is always the same: to provide a suitable and reliable environment for personal recovery.
NA’s primary approach to recovery is its belief in the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. Members take part in NA meetings by talking about their experiences and recovery from drug addiction. NA meetings are informally structured, held in space rented by the group, and are led by members who take turns opening and closing the meeting. NA meetings and other services are funded entirely by member contributions and the sale of recovery literature.
Reprinted from A Resource In Your Community.
Anonymous World Services, Inc.
PO Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409
August 10, 2026 |
Regular prayer and meditation |
| Page 232 |
| “Most of us pray when we are hurting. We learn that if we pray regularly, we won’t be hurting as often or as intensely.” |
| Basic Text, p. 45 |
| Regular prayer and meditation are two more key elements in our new pattern of living. Our active addiction was more than just a bad habit waiting to be broken by force of will. Our addiction was a negative, draining dependence that stole all our positive energy. That dependence was so total, it prevented us from developing any kind of reliance on a Higher Power. From the very beginning of our recovery, our Higher Power has been the force that’s brought us freedom. First, it relieved us of our compulsion to keep taking drugs, even when we knew they were killing us. Then, it gave us freedom from the more deeply ingrained aspects of our disease. Our Higher Power gave us the direction, the strength, and the courage to inventory ourselves; to admit out loud to another person what our lives had been like, perhaps for the first time; to begin seeking release from the chronic defects of character underlying our troubles; and, at last, to make amends for the wrongs we’d done. That first contact with a Higher Power, and that first freedom, has grown into a life full of freedom. We maintain that freedom by maintaining and improving our conscious contact with our Higher Power through regular prayer and meditation. |
| Just for Today: I will make a commitment to include regular prayer and meditation in my new pattern of living. |
| Copyright (c) 2007-2026, NA World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved |