3rd step promises

[dsmaxis10]

When we sincerely took such a position, all sorts of remarkable things followed. We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began ton lose our fear of today, tomorrow or hereafter. We were reborn. big book first edition pg 63c031:

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by dsmaxis10

... As we felt new power flow in...

Does it mean we don't stay powerless forever?

[dsmaxis10]

We get power thats not are power. On page 386 of the 4th edition it talks about power alot times. It says -Here was power to live to the end of any given day , power to have courage to face the next day, power to have friends, power to help people, power to be sane, power to stay sober-Page 53 it says - we were given the power to reason-. And on page 567 it taks about power without saying power - With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected( inner resource) which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.- And then at a AA anniversary a guy with 39yrs sober said we get power. The big book dont lie. The inner resource ya tap into is far beyond power. My experience matches the big book . Bob D xa speakers sober since 1978 gave me the answer to this . If I was to take a drink of alchol I would not be able to stop so I'd be powerless, but then he says if you use these steps as a way of life and principles. One day you be able to be in a room full of your drug of choice and it will me nothing to you it will be like furnitue. Me personally I think step 1a should say admit complete defeat somethin like that our like the six steps thay used before twelve on page 263 step one says complete deflation its way better its what I did. Anyways I gave the answer to the question I no you can see it, it said millions cant.

[dsmaxis10]

- 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of (POWER) and of love and of a sound mind.-

[mick3580]

In the chapter We Agnostics, it reffers to that "Power" which is God. God is the power. The power is God. We do not have power, because we don't have God. God is not a posession, so power must not be either. Also, the powerlessness over alcohol is the lack of power of choice over the drink. Yes, I can make the decision not to drink. However, there's no power in that decision both before I take the first drink and after I take a few drinks. The power has to come from some place else.

[dsmaxis10]

Why would Bill W write in step 11 to pray for power. Just to pray or to get power to do GOD will.The problem which is powerless but the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. But who us, people who have had a release from the obssesion of alchol. I just love what BB says about power.All this comes from an old timers I ask about power.The quote I have power thats not my power comes from an old timer who I ask if were powerless forever .So the power on page 50 new power flows in.So if power flows in which is GOD how are they powerless?

[Mark75]

Powerlessness seems to be so misunderstood by those who reject AA's 12 steps. Even more, is this idea of bring God's power into our lives.

My understanding is that we all have God's power within us... Whether we choose to use it... And whether we choose to understand that it is God's power... All good things within me, those that have been there all along, those that I have rediscovered... It is by God's grace.

We can choose to attribute it to our own selves. OK, fine, but that's egocentric. IMHO.

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by Mark75

My understanding is that we all have God's power within us... Whether we choose to use it... And whether we choose to understand that it is God's power...

"With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.
Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. Our more religious members call it “God-consciousness.”
(Appendix II)

[dsmaxis10]

A wise old timer told me that you can recover from a gunshot wound and get shot again. Well the old timer that said your not powerless anymore is crazy why because he gave credit to himselve.The one who said you have power thats not your power is sane. MARK75 thanks for your post!!!

[mick3580]

Potato potoddo. If you work all twelve steps and have a spiritual awakening, the understanding of power doesn't matter.

[Phmdyw]

Yes - these promises come true EVENTUALLY - NOT at step 3.