When we decided to turn our will and lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him, we made a declaration of independence. We declared our freedom from the chains of our self-centered ego and the unrelenting demands of our self-will. When we decided that God was God and we were not, we began to receive the wonderful future that had been planned for us.
That decision was our claim to a new life. The prison that was our home has been destroyed. We decide to let go and let God on a daily basis. Our wills are always free to decide. We must decide to keep ourselves conscious at all times and listen to the voices that speak to us. We must decide to guard against our ego once again begging to run the show.
My will power will only be helpful to me when it is acting in accordance with my decision to let my Higher Power instruct me in the way to go.
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"Never make someone a priority who makes you an option"
It's Amazing (to this alcoholic) that usually we must acquire total desperation before we are willing to let go of the idea that we can continue to manage our unmanageable lives, and let a Higher power take a shot at it.
The 3d step is a decision I try to renew on a daily basis.
This is where the change begins, we can't really do any of the other steps well unless we are relieved of the bondage of self.
This step at a glance can seem daunting. Give up self will? Is that even possible? Staying in self will can be like staying in a bad relationship, it's comfortable even though it sucks.
Just like they say, we need to have HOW Honesty, openmindedness and willingness to change.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
For someone as dumb as me, step three was impossible to grasp in advance. Instead I followed some suggestions about prayer and looking for the results. And while I was praying and seeing the results, God began his work on me. I can look back and see that I did make that decision, I just didn't understand it at the time. God's first action was to begin changing my attitudes, especially my resistance to house cleaning. Without any conscious thought on my part I found myself at my sponsor's door, feeling the need to take the next step. The big book says something along the lines that the decision of step 3 is indeed a crucial step, but can have little lasting effect unless at once followed by vigorous action to rid ourselves of the things that had been blocking us from Him. I was willing enough to try prayer, He did the rest.
I suppose this is exactly where I'm going wrong. Thanks for sharing this, Tasha
This is where most of us went wrong or go wrong Tasha at least it was for me lol. Coming in raw and full of fear and emotion is a tough gig to overcome, I remember it like it was yesterday. There will come a point when you'll let go in exhaustion though, ironically it's when we become to tired to hang on to your old thoughts and ideas any longer. This program is filled with paradox's lol. When you let go you'll know, and so will we..
I always tell newcomers to hold on to their old thinking as tight and as hard as they can for as long as they can, they usually surrender in a couple months..
Don't Drink!
-- Edited by The Addiction Club on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 05:02:47 PM
__________________
"Never make someone a priority who makes you an option"
