Stepwork

Learn how the 12 Steps work. Participate in your own recovery as well as the recovery of others, by being active on this board as we go through the 12 Steps of recovery together! We discuss each of the Twelve Steps In the order they are written, one step at a time, every two weeks.

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
 
Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Step Work -> Step Work -> Step 3 - ACA
Post Info TOPIC: Step 3 - ACA
notcrazy62


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 21
Date:
Step 3 - ACA
Permalink  

From 12 Steps - A way out

Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to care of God as we understood God.

Imagine the insanity of trying to perform surgery on ourselves. At the first hint of pain from the scalpel, we would stop. Healing would never happen. It is just as insane to think that we can manage our own recovery. We must put our lives into the hands of our Higher Power, who knows the extent of our disease. Our Higher Power alone knows what is needed for healing and has our best interest at hear.

In Step 3 we decide to turn the scalpel over to God as we understand God. We decide to turn our control of our will and our lives. We have admitted our powerlessness and inability to manage our lives. We also have come to believe that God can heal us, and now, we decide to turn our will and our lives over to God's care.

Many of us begin Step 3 process by deciding to turn over only certain parts of our lives. We are willing to surrender the most difficult problems when we see they are making our lives unmanageable. We cling to other areas of our lives because we think we can manage them or because we think they are necessary for our survival. We eventually realize that we cannot barter with God. We must be prepared to surrender our entire will and every part of our lives to his care if we want to recover. When we are truly able to accept this fact, our journey to wholeness has begun.

Which parts of your life are you unwilling to turn over to the care of a Higher Power? why?

Turning control of your life over to God helps reduce stress. Why do you think this is true?

Turning our life over to God does not mean we give up on our lives. Exlpain what this means to you.

__________________
Sunny2007


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 4
Date:
Permalink  

"Turning control of your life over to God helps reduce stress. Why do you think this is true?"

The reason I think that is true is that I have tried it. smile  I personally don't need any further research to convince me that my higher power (God as I understand "God") actually is in control of my life whether I acknowledge it or not. 

When I do consciously acknowledge how things are in reality (at least in my world), it's better than if I don't.  There are just a lot fewer detours, a lot smoother road, and so on if I daily (or more often) consciously turn control of my life over to my higher power.

What a relief for this oldest child with the orientation to be all and do all so nobody could point a bad finger at her or her family!  What a relief that things are *not* all up to me. 

What a glorious experience to be buoyed up in the ocean of life by a strong power that lets me rest when I need to rest and swim when I need to swim and even play around with others in the water!

Sure, I have trials ... have had and still do.  They too are easier for me when I consciously turn control of my life over to my higher power.

Sunny

__________________
rosielightshines


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 8
Date:
Permalink  

notcrazy62 wrote:
I have always had trouble with step 3.....step 1,  i am powerless (i accept that)  step 2,  he/she is NOT (no prob- i belive)...step 3 the surrender part-  i am *willing,  but is he/she??? *willing to work on ALL parts of my life, not just the spiritual- 

sometimes i see HP only working on the spiritual rather then natural issues-  well on earth we have both and i need HP power on BOTH....i just sometimes wonder is he/she going to take "this" or am i to just walk away and let it go???  step 3 is my hard part , not becuz i am unwilling, i AM,  i just don't know   IS  he/she willing??? or is this a "make it work with the tools i gave you 2,000 yearks ago and i'll see ya in heaven"......i just keep being willing/ open/ honest and hope for the best.....

good shares,  Rosie



Which parts of your life are you unwilling to turn over to the care of a Higher Power? why?

Turning control of your life over to God helps reduce stress. Why do you think this is true?

Turning our life over to God does not mean we give up on our lives. Exlpain what this means to you.



 



__________________
EveB


Newbie

Status: Offline
Posts: 2
Date:
Permalink  


My experience is that I thought I did this step much earlier before I came to Al-Anon as a believer. I was sure God has a control in my life and I was glad He had. Unless I started experience how much I was influenced by the alcoholism disase, how realy unamangable my life is. That time I started to doubt. I thought God does not care about me, that He is very far and left me alone with my problems. Only after all my struggles with myself, with my will, with Him, I relaized I do not have other chance when I want to be healed. The twelve steps- especially the third, told me I have to come back to my Higher power, back to believe that He is able to manage my life. The problem was I thought He is in control, but that was me who wanted to control and manage myself. Today I am sure He has a control and it does not mean I have to do nothing. I work on my character and He helps me to see what to change- like ask people for forgivenes, take responsability for myself an so on. It is truth that by turning my life over to God , my life became more peaceful, because I neather try to change what I can not and I always give to Him everything what I think is over my strenths. I think that is humility I needed. Love in recovery, eva

__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums -> Step Work -> Step Work -> Step 3 - ACA
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)

Al-Anon

Courage to Change

The 12 Steps 
For Adult Children

Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums
Recovery Book Store
http://www.12stepforums.net/books.html

All Books in our bookstore are recovery related books, please visit the store and make a purchase for yourself or someone you want to shine some love on!

Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

 

 

Daily Affirmations for Adult Childern

When you buy a book you are helping support Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums

We have over 100 recovery books in our bookstore which is affiliated with Amazon.com.  The fastest, safest and easiest way to get your new reading material sent directly to you.