3/21-3/27 Weekly Topic - Step 3 in Your Life

[Faith92208]

Sorry this is late.

What does step 3 mean for you personally? How do you practice this step in your own life?

[francie21805]

“Made a decision turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him”

Chapter 5 in the Big Book, “How it Works,” contains three statements that some call the ABC’s of AA. They are read at every meeting, but I’ll repeat them anyway. They are (a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives; (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism; and (c) That God could and would if He were sought.

Powerful statements and they have saved my life. I had to come to accept and believe them. These three things are what I needed to get a firm start in AA. I spent about a year on these three Steps and today believe without these three Steps no one can successfully work the other Steps.

For some of us, it's hard to grasp the ABC’s. It takes real honesty to accept the first statement that I was an alcoholic and could not manage my own life. I also had to give up, forever, the idea that I’d ever be able to take one drink safely.

The second statement: “That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.” I had lost any confidence, I might have had, in any human power to help me. Nobody could keep me sober and my own powers had proven for not.

The third statement, “God could and would if He were sought, required me to believe that there is a Higher Power who could and would help me. But did I really believe that? Yes and No, at first. After all if there was a God, He’d given up on me, or I was not worthy or one of his “chosen”, on and on.

Later, I found that I was resentful towards whatever God I thought there was. But, alcohol had whipped me, but good, and I could do nothing but try and tap into a Higher Power that had so apparently worked for so many others. With an open mind, and being as willing as a dying person could be, I accepted help from others and I was able to find a God of my understanding.

So, what does Step 3 mean for me personally? And how do I practice this Step in my life?

Simply - There is a God and I’m not Him. I try not to play God, it doesn’t work for me. I try to do the right thing, which I believe is part of God’s will for me. And I ask Him for His help, daily, to do His will, even though I have no clue of exactly what that is, except to not drink and to practice all the principles in all my affairs.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine be done.

[Faith92208]

Good stuff Francie! I'm looking forward to more replies as I am just beginning this step myself and would like to know everyone's feelings/experiences/daily practices of step 3. It worked out great, too, the last meeting I went to was all about step 3! So God is teaching me through you people!

[flick]

thank's for the topic Francie and your share.

I've been in recovery (with a few relapses) for over three years now and it has taken this long for me to really accept the following;

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives;

I've done Steps 1 and 2 a few times, only recently worked through Step 3.

As I was coming to commit myself to the Step

“Made a decision turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him”

I recal thinking to myself how do I just turn it all over to Him? After really studying the reading with my sponsor I came to understand that it's not a do it and be done with it, "wallah all is changed"!!!!....it is a Step that needs continuous work, I don't know about later on but for me at the moment it's a daily thing; "Lord I give myself to You to do with as You Will"!!!! Being rather arrogant at times and certainly pig-headed I am liable to want to take it back and keep trying it my way, BUT I am not God; "I can't, He can, I think I'll let Him" is something that has been told to me a few times and I use it often in the following way; "I can't, I know You can God, I'll let You". I do believe very strongly that the only way to really get and stay "sober" is to let God run the show!!

I have seen over the past 3 years that when I've relapsed and picked up it's been preceeded by a lapse in spirituality and then an emotional drunk....yes you'd think that Flick would just give in and let go by now!!!!....I found God again after many many years of being a total non-believer and I believe that because I hadn't really been working the Steps and applying recovery fully to my life that I kept reverting to 'my way'.

I really love the calm and serenity that comes into my days when I let God have control...it's truly awesome.

thank's for letting me share.

Look fw to hearing how you go with the Step Faith

[francie21805]

Good Stuff Flick!! - Thank you!!