from the '12 Steps and 12 Traditions' book: Step 2 - "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." "... First, Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. All of its Twelve Steps are but suggestions. Second, to get sober and stay sober you don't have to swallow all of Step 2 right now. Looking back, I find that I took it piecemeal myself. Third, all you really need is a truly open mind. Just resign from the debating society and quit bothering yourself with such deep questions as whether it was the hen or the egg that came first. Again, I say, all you need is the open mind... "... I must quickly assure you that AA's tread innumerable paths in their quest for faith... many a man like you has begun to solve the problem by the method of substitution. You can, if you wish, make AA itself your 'higher power'. Here's a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. In this respect they are certainly a power greater than you, who have not even come close to a solution. Surely you can have faith in them. Even the minimum of faith will be enough. You will find many members who have crossed the threshold in just this way. All of them will tell you that, once across, their faith broadened and deepened. Relieved of the alcohol obsession, their lives unaccountably transformed, they came to believe in a Higher Power, and most of them began to talk of God... "Sometimes AA comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting... "... Step 2 is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every AA meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him."
russman said
Jun 4, 2007
First i had to be convince that i am powerless over Alcohol...The Big Book says that'' lack of power was are Dilemma''We had to find a power by which we could Live. My sponcer once told me that one day the only thing that would come beteen me and a drink would be a power greater than me...and is has happen more than once.
One day i went to the post office and my truck broke down ....there was a market about 1 mile away which had a phone booth outside ...and it was hot about 100....so by the time i got to the market i was thirsty ...i was going inside to get a gatorade which was by the beer....then the thought hit me a beer would taste so good....and i had been sober for 10 years at the time.....and i new i was in trouble ..put me head down said a little prayer God help me.....''The next thought i had was you never had one beer lol '' i had been restored to sanity at that moment ....some times quickly sometimes slowly ...but it has not fail me so far ... '' We have no mental defence from that first Drink'' That Defence must come from a Higher Power. Thank you Amanda2u2
-- Edited by russman at 04:37, 2007-06-04
Blessed said
Jun 4, 2007
Step 2. Came to beleive that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to Sanity. I was a liar a cheat and a theif. Step 2 talks about a God that I didn't believe in when I got here. I hated him!
Alcoholics Anonymous first I would like to say "Thanks." A.A. gave me my start, that is where I first learned about ALcoholism, The 12-steps, Sponsorship, telling the truth, crying, writtiing about people I hurt, resentments, worry, anger, myself, ect. I learned how to make an ammends list and do it, Until it I thought I wouldn't make it.
THe best part though is "The SPiritual Awakening" that awaits you on the completion of the 12th Step. "God" transforms your life.
Mine came through his son Jesus Christ after the twelfth step.
I was a God hater, not as lover of God at all. Now I love life, my husband, my family, myself, other people, and I know that this isn't the end of the equation here on Earth. We have an Eternity to look forward too.
I have my good and bad days in life. I just have to follow the best way that GOd tells me to go, praying first, listening, Trusting GOd with everything. With God! I can't loose.
I continue to do the steps because I am a growing Child of God that is also a Recovered Drunk. It's a Blessing to be sober today and living this life for God and his willl for my life, instead of my will for my life and everyone else's life.
Thanks, Blessed
Blessed said
Jun 21, 2007
Hi,
From my 12x12 Step Two
Came to beleive that a Power Greater than ourselves could restore us to Sanity"
The 12x12 tells us that every new comer that has agreed his life is unmanageable has come to this place faced with DO I BELIEVE IN GOD? Most of us think we rose from premordial ooze not some God of the Universe.
The New Comer needs to feel relaxed not Frightened away, A.A. doesn't demand that they believe in anything the STEPS are only a suggestion. To get and stay sober some of us don't have to swallow all of step 2 right now, third keep an open mind.
Here is a very large group of people (in AA that have solved their alcohol problem). In this respect they did it with a power greater than you, who have not even come close to a solution. Surely you can have Faith in them.
Step two tells me that I was like a selfish child always asking God for everything like a wish list for Santa Claus. When it isn't attained I have a temper tantrum of selfishness and anger.
We must always pray "THY WILL BE DONE" not mine.
Thanks Love
Blessed
bowleggedduff said
Jun 21, 2007
Step 2 had me looking at several things. One that there was a Higher Power that wanted to be active in my life. Second that I has a form of insanity! I always believed in a GOD but i had the impression that he was always judging me and I always came up short. It was hard to live with that conviction and spurred me drinking career on. Then to think I was insane....WHAT!!!!!. But as i reflected back my thought processes weren't very sane were King Alcohol was involved. My "sane decisions" got me to the point where I had lost everything... job, house marriage, kids, freedom and respect for myself. When i saw that i had to agree that i needed help in restoring any kind of sane thoughts. Step 2 gave me the hope that there might be a way out of the hole I had dug for myself. I sure didn't have anything to lose. I was already at the bottom and what I had been doing was getting me nowhere. So I stepped out on the bridge of faith and darned if things haven't been getting better. There were many things in my recovery that only a GOD who was active in my life would of done. He has shown me that he is there and wants what is best for me.. as long as I stay out of the driver seat and let him do the guiding. I thank AA for helping me find a GOD of my understanding and I thank GOD for helping me find AA.
wahmliz said
Jul 7, 2008
I have been a believer since childhood, but have not understood how my upbringing by alcoholics and my own alcoholism affected the health of my mind and thought patterns. Alcoholism has caused many health issues such as pre-diabetes and other hormonal malfunctions that cause me to yell at my kids and to say no to them more than I embrace them and say yes. Only with God's help and the help of this group can my thought patterns begin to mend through the twelve step program.
Liz
from the '12 Steps and 12 Traditions' book: Step 2 - "Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." "... First, Alcoholics Anonymous does not demand that you believe anything. All of its Twelve Steps are but suggestions. Second, to get sober and stay sober you don't have to swallow all of Step 2 right now. Looking back, I find that I took it piecemeal myself. Third, all you really need is a truly open mind. Just resign from the debating society and quit bothering yourself with such deep questions as whether it was the hen or the egg that came first. Again, I say, all you need is the open mind... "... I must quickly assure you that AA's tread innumerable paths in their quest for faith... many a man like you has begun to solve the problem by the method of substitution. You can, if you wish, make AA itself your 'higher power'. Here's a very large group of people who have solved their alcohol problem. In this respect they are certainly a power greater than you, who have not even come close to a solution. Surely you can have faith in them. Even the minimum of faith will be enough. You will find many members who have crossed the threshold in just this way. All of them will tell you that, once across, their faith broadened and deepened. Relieved of the alcohol obsession, their lives unaccountably transformed, they came to believe in a Higher Power, and most of them began to talk of God... "Sometimes AA comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting... "... Step 2 is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every AA meeting is an assurance that God will restore us to sanity if we rightly relate ourselves to Him."
First i had to be convince that i am powerless over Alcohol...The Big Book says that'' lack of power was are Dilemma''We had to find a power by which we could Live.
My sponcer once told me that one day the only thing that would come beteen me and a drink would be a power greater than me...and is has happen more than once.
One day i went to the post office and my truck broke down ....there was a market about 1 mile away which had a phone booth outside ...and it was hot about 100....so by the time i got to the market i was thirsty ...i was going inside to get a gatorade which was by the beer....then the thought hit me a beer would taste so good....and i had been sober for 10 years at the time.....and i new i was in trouble ..put me head down said a little prayer God help me.....''The next thought i had was you never had one beer lol '' i had been restored to sanity at that moment ....some times quickly sometimes slowly ...but it has not fail me so far ...
'' We have no mental defence from that first Drink'' That Defence must come from a Higher Power.
Thank you Amanda2u2
-- Edited by russman at 04:37, 2007-06-04
I was a liar a cheat and a theif.
Step 2 talks about a God that I didn't believe in when I got here. I hated him!
Alcoholics Anonymous first I would like to say "Thanks." A.A. gave me my start, that is where I first learned about ALcoholism, The 12-steps, Sponsorship, telling the truth, crying, writtiing about people I hurt, resentments, worry, anger, myself, ect. I learned how to make an ammends list and do it, Until it I thought I wouldn't make it.
THe best part though is "The SPiritual Awakening" that awaits you on the completion of the 12th Step. "God" transforms your life.
Mine came through his son Jesus Christ after the twelfth step.
I was a God hater, not as lover of God at all. Now I love life, my husband, my family, myself, other people, and I know that this isn't the end of the equation here on Earth. We have an Eternity to look forward too.
I have my good and bad days in life. I just have to follow the best way that GOd tells me to go, praying first, listening, Trusting GOd with everything. With God! I can't loose.
I continue to do the steps because I am a growing Child of God that is also a Recovered Drunk. It's a Blessing to be sober today and living this life for God and his willl for my life, instead of my will for my life and everyone else's life.
Thanks,
Blessed