having a bit of a problem here

[din]

I have a good relationship ( I feel) with Jesus already....having said that,

"I want to turn over my will and my life" / need to make it through step 3 FULLY

but I feel I am only doing a portion...(letting go 1/2 way).........and hanging onto the other half.

some direction or words of wisdom would come in handy

[soberinwpg]

Hmm. Good question and a hard question. I don't think I can ever 100% give it over to God 100% of the time. God gave me free will. But what I can do is realize it and pray for the the guidance and keep trying. I think that's all we can do. Is do the best we can do.

[McGowdog]

Since I believe God to have showed up anonymously in our Big Book, I just call God God. But, that's just me.

The choice that you are making is simply between God and booze. Choose one and go with it.

And once you do that, you become 100% responsible to YOUR decision.

My book says that I have to quit playing God, because that doesn't work. Another Big Book says something to the effect of saying "Lord Lord" will not get you into the Kingdom"... "I know you not."

So this is your big shot in the Sunlight, your chance to shine. If you want to know if you've taken Step 3 sufficiently, it will have you starting out by putting pen to paper, sharing that, taking stuff to God and asking God to remove it, then it will have you knocking on some doors.

That's the way I understand it.

Oh, welcome to SR!

Flashforward to suGerspun; Any LOST fans in here? Anywho, that's the pen to paper reference.

[sugErspun]

You know when you have a done your 3rd step?

You find yourself making a list of people, institutions and principles with whom you were angry.

[rockworm]

Step 3 only asks us to make a decision. As soon as we say a step 3 prayer, we move on to step 4. This is exactly what sugErspun said.

If you look at the step 5 promises in the Big Book (pg 75), it says "We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience."

For myself, I wanted the experience of feeling that my will and life had been turned over. The feeling came as a result of doing the 4th and 5th.

Originally Posted by din

"I want to turn over my will and my life" / need to make it through step 3 FULLY

All all Big Book quotes are from Alcoholics Anonymous 1st edition

[Stereosteveo]

How it was explained to me:

3 frogs on a log.
One decided to jump.
How many left?
3.
Decision is a decision.
Nothing happened.

"We made a decision to.....God.....by making a decision to do steps 4-9"

Right after step 3 in the book:

"step 3 could have little permanent effect unless.......launched (launched=0-60mph in 3 seconds or less)......into a vigourous course of action.."

[din]

So..........

if I read this right (and "I AM" back here reading this again!!) and have NOT started on my list...............

I'm to assume I still think I'm in the drivers seat??

I pray diligently EVERY day to ~ let go
~ listen
~ to relax
(thats what ya do in the back seat I'm guessing)

I am still sober (day 51 for me) and I fear.........SOOOOO FEAR I am going to be one of those "dry drunks"...who just white knuckle it for the rest of their lives.

I "NEED" direction here people....wtf am I doing wrong??

I want that serene feeling I read about..

Din~

I'm NOT going away until I get this RIGHT!!

[Stereosteveo]

I know what you are saying din, and imma let you finish, but what about what I'm fixing to PM you?



Grats on 51 days!! Yipee!!

[intention]

Hi Din, it is good to hear that you are determined to work this program right.

Originally Posted by din

if I read this right (and "I AM" back here reading this again!!) and have NOT started on my list...............

Do you mean you have not started Step 4?

Steps 4 through to 9 will remove that which is blocking you from God. Until you do them, God cannot take care of you. Step 3 is only a decision to hand over or let go. Decision gets followed by action.

I pray diligently EVERY day to ~ let go
~ listen
~ to relax
(thats what ya do in the back seat I'm guessing)

How we pray is very important.

"....We ask especially for freedom from self-will, and are careful to make no request for ourselves only. We may ask for ourselves, however, if others will be helped. We are careful never to pray for our own selfish ends. Many of us have wasted a lot of time doing that and it doesn't work. You can easily see why." p87

[intention]

Originally Posted by din

"I want to turn over my will and my life" / need to make it through step 3 FULLY

Sorry Din, I didn't see the first post in this thread. I see now you are on Step 3.

Perhaps you are misunderstanding step 3 if you think that you have to turn your will and life over FULLY.

Step 3 is only the decision to do so. Step 12 is "Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps........."

Are you expecting Step 12 results while on Step 3?