having a bit of a problem here
~ still a believer ~
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 141
having a bit of a problem here
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
"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
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The GREAT White North
Posts: 315
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.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern Colorado
Posts: 1,167
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.
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.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 58
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.
All all Big Book quotes are from Alcoholics Anonymous 1st edition
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
Nonexistent Willpower
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 439
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.."
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.."
~ still a believer ~
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 141
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!!
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!!
Don't resist, allow
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Hi Din, it is good to hear that you are determined to work this program right.
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.
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
Originally Posted by din
if I read this right (and "I AM" back here reading this again!!) and have NOT started on my list...............
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)
~ 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
Don't resist, allow
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South East of England
Posts: 1,521
Originally Posted by din
"I want to turn over my will and my life" / need to make it through step 3 FULLY
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?
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