STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
STEP SEVEN: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
We've done our Step 4 and 5 work. Now we can hand our inventory over to our Higher Power. Really hand it over, as in 'surrender' it to have our shortcomings removed. Let our defects be our Higher Power's to change.
We've tried to do this ourselves through willpower and it hasn't worked. Why not try it by being ready and willing to let our personal Higher Power remove it for us.
In the meantime we need to get on with our lives by using the Program to stay focused and 'sane'....one day at a time.
Perhaps I can spend more time with my Higher Power in prayer or meditation as one way to strengthen my faith in surrendering. There are many ways to 'work' Step 6 and 7.....
ivie said
Sep 19, 2007
In the Sixth and Seventh Steps of the program, we become willing to let go of our defects of character - issues, behaviors, old feelings, unresolved grief, and beliefs that are blocking us from the joy that is ours. Then we ask God to take them from us.
Isn't that simple? We don't have to contort ourselves to make ourselves change. We don't have to force change. For once, we don't have to "do it ourselves." All we have to do is strive for an attitude of willingness and humility. All we have to do is ask God for what we want and need, and then trust God to do for us that which we cannot do and do not have to do for ourselves.
We do not have to watch with bated breath for how and when we shall change. This is not a self-help program. In this miraculous and effective program that has brought about recovery and change for millions, we become changed by working the Steps.
Today, God, help me surrender to recovery and to the process by which I become changed. Help me focus on the Step I need. Help me do my part, relax, and allow the rest to happen.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody
florence said
Sep 20, 2007
how great to have this resource... thank you higher power in everyone! i have never fully 'got it' before, that i dont have to try to remove these shortcomings. i have done step 4 twice , step 5 once, step 6 once, but even though i've said the words of 7 before i've always felt vague about it. i can be judgemental, faultfinding, shut in, hard hearted. i know this,- i'm in no doubt about these characteristics most often my worst excesses are against myself. i have tried for years to stop these thinking/feeling patterns in myself. i've often criticised myself to the point of total exaustion, but i have never prayed directly and clearly for god to remove them. being willing has brought up fear for me. these are my defenses, open hearts hurt! when i open up i feel more. i'm afraid of the pain. i'm afraid of the desperate loneliness of my childhood. i'm afraid of being open and loving and not being good enough to be loved in return. so now i will embark again on this strange road of trust in the higher power, and if i shut down and avoid his gift of love, i know it will be there for me as soon as i have the courage to trust again.
when i humbly ask him to remove these shortcomings i am confident he will do just that..... i feel scared but really all that can happen is more happiness. ooh still scary tho'!!!
STEP SEVEN: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
We've done our Step 4 and 5 work. Now we can hand our inventory over to our Higher Power. Really hand it over, as in 'surrender' it to have our shortcomings removed. Let our defects be our Higher Power's to change.
We've tried to do this ourselves through willpower and it hasn't worked. Why not try it by being ready and willing to let our personal Higher Power remove it for us.
In the meantime we need to get on with our lives by using the Program to stay focused and 'sane'....one day at a time.
Perhaps I can spend more time with my Higher Power in prayer or meditation as one way to strengthen my faith in surrendering. There are many ways to 'work' Step 6 and 7.....
how great to have this resource... thank you higher power in everyone!
most often my worst excesses are against myself. i have tried for years to stop these thinking/feeling patterns in myself. i've often criticised myself to the point of total exaustion, but i have never prayed directly and clearly for god to remove them.
i have never fully 'got it' before, that i dont have to try to remove these shortcomings. i have done step 4 twice , step 5 once, step 6 once, but even though i've said the words of 7 before i've always felt vague about it.
i can be judgemental, faultfinding, shut in, hard hearted. i know this,- i'm in no doubt about these characteristics
being willing has brought up fear for me. these are my defenses, open hearts hurt! when i open up i feel more. i'm afraid of the pain. i'm afraid of the desperate loneliness of my childhood. i'm afraid of being open and loving and not being good enough to be loved in return.
so now i will embark again on this strange road of trust in the higher power, and if i shut down and avoid his gift of love, i know it will be there for me as soon as i have the courage to trust again.
when i humbly ask him to remove these shortcomings i am confident he will do just that..... i feel scared but really all that can happen is more happiness. ooh still scary tho'!!!