From:Al-Anon Works pg 49 (copyright 1995, by Al-Anon Family Group Hdqtrs, Inc.  Limited use by express written permission of Al-Anon Family Group Hdqtrs, Inc.)

Some of us already have a   comfortable relationship with a Power greater than ourselves.  But the concept of a God or a Higher Power can be a difficult one to accept for those of us who have no particular spiritual beliefs, and for those who have had negative experiences with religious organizations in the past.  Al-Anon is not a religious program, but it is a spiritual one.  Our Twelve Steps speak of a Power greater than ourselves and a God of our understanding.  We do not impose a particular image or definition of that God or Higher Power.  instead, we leave it to individual members to define for themselves, and to find a personal, spirtual relationship that allows them to benefit from what our program has to offer.

Love in Recovery - Dot

Sorry, I forgot to post the step above.

Step Three - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Not being a believer in a particular religion, this Step was hard for me.  I struggled daily trying to feel something different in my life because I was willing to follow this program.  I shared how I felt at many meetings including an AA/Al-Anon open meeting.  After the meeting an AA came to me and shared his understanding of this Step.  If I would knee down with the Third Step prayer or one of my own and tell my Higher Power that I was turning my will and my life over to His care, I had completed the Step.  I did this, and until I again kneel down and take it back, my Higher Power has my life. 

I ask for His guidance each morning and say thank you at night and practice the rest of the Steps, to the best of my ability, in all areas of my life.

Looking forward to your shares - love - Dot

Step Three A.A. Made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of GOD as we understood him. When I first came into the program I was a hater of anyone or anything that told me what to do. I was rebellious, stubborn, strong-willed, angry, hurt, sick, and sick and sick and sick somemore. No one thought I was going to make it. Today I am still sick but to a lesser degree. Because I was constantly shaking, crying, couldn't think coudn't concentrate. But one thing is for sure I was ready to turn my life over to GOd. And I did! I had no other road to turn to at that point in my life. I HIT "THE" BOTTOM. I asked God to please HELP me get Sober after a 28 year run with my runnin, alcohol, drugs, immorality, and the things that were making me Spiritually sick. I would step out in FAITH and TRUST GOD. I knew it was GOD that worked through each person he put in my LIFE. The sponser, the meetings, the hills I could finally appreciate that had cows on them. The birds I never saw when I was drunk. I could read and focus again, Oil Paint again. All the things I missed for so many years in a black out, black fog. I hid in SHAME, all my life I hid, ran, fearful of what others thought of me, or tried to hard to be liked by anyone even the most evil people. There were fleeting times that I broke Abba's Heart. He is my creator, he is my higher power. Through the program I met my GOD, my DADDY. I choose today to call him Jesus, Lord of my life. Unashamed, unafraid, he set me free. Some of you may say "YUK," shut it! or something else. But I have had so many blessings, like a healing of seizures on the Alter of the Church with many witnessess. Yes, I have also had struggles. But this STEP if you don't cross this one the rest will not come to you. Work this Step with a Sponsor of your choosing. But reallly be HONEST through these steps holing beck nothing no matter how painful it is. As a matter of fact the more painful mine was the better it was for me. Becasue I had so much pain to expell to someone that could just relax and listen. Confirm that I wasn't awful and creepy and we moved on. HONESTY Thanks, Blessed

From:Paths to Recovery pg 28 (copyright 1997, by Al-Anon Family Group Hdqtrs, Inc.  Limited use by express written permission of Al-Anon Family Group Hdqtrs, Inc.)

' The first phrase of Step Three, "Made a decision" shows us that we have choices. We make this decision when we are ready. Everyone works through the Steps at their own pace, in many cases returning to earlier Steps over and over again until ready to move to the next one. No one compels us to turn over our will. We choose to try this because the way of life we created on self-will alone was neither satisfying nor serene. '


hi Dot and everyone thanks for the inspiring shares. I particularly like that reading Dot, it's one of the advantages of this programme that we don't have to conform to any kind of religion necessarily. The Programme asks only that we try to find something to believe in that is compassionate towards us. The quote I have chosen illustrates the same kind of thing, we choose what to believe in and try to put some faith in that. Not that we just sit and wait for things to happen really - there is also 'footwork' , putting into practice some of the tools of the Programme helps us to stay in touch with our Higher Power of choice, something like that. And  yes always looking for a deeper level of honesty, the 'exact nature' of which needs regular updates,

love in the Fellowship to you all,

Vickyr x

A.A. Step 3 Made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of GOD. ( as we understood him) Hi Dot, Vickie, and all the Newbies, Newbies by the way you are the most important people here on this board and the most impotant people we want to give the message of HOPE too. After Step 1 2 and 3 which I worked today. As I sat down today to pray, read, and meditate. I found out that turning everything over to GOD isn't always easy for me. The truth be told I struggle with my Flesh every single day. Because I want things my way to often. Instead of sitting at the feet of GOD and asking him HIS WILL for MY LIFE. If I turned everything over to GOD, ALL the time, eachday I would have complete REST, PEACE, and no STRESS or WORRY. That is what GOD revealed to me today during my time with him. I know it in my HEART now I have to continue to WALK in it as a plan of ACTION. GODS IN CONTROL! I AM NOT! Amen, Amen, Blessed

I went to Step three when I could not stand it anymore. I was simply in so much pain there was no where else to turn then I turned it over. There was nothing else to do with that level of pain. I could no longer sit with it or act it out.

maresie

Step Three - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. T u v m Dot for setting this up n regards n namaste` to all. The readings for today help to underscore the value of the message of the third step, to me and in my way of seeing then my h p. Its a h p that has room enough within itself to let itself be called a h p or a god or goddess. So this then if my thought of my h p to rid my mind of the buggar-entity-person as a god concept that i was taught to believe is so, and a power with some hell - place for those who did not give honor to that god / h p.. To the sake of simplicity, my developed h p concept is one of which allows me room to grow as clearly as I can determine the hp / god/dess being my faith ( again back to today's reading ) is there to honor myself as I give honor in return. How I work the program is what is given back to me then -- or now. gentle paths n light n love 2 all getoverit

thanks also for these. It's inspiring to read how the programme has brought back your confidence in life

llol Vickyr x

Step Three: This was a natural course of events for me. I think Step One was a lot harder for me to accept. I have always been conscious of a higher power working in my life. From my earliest recollection I have been aware that a power whom I choose to call God has been a part of my life. Turning my life over to Him is something I willingly want to do Cookie