Thanks for posting the third step, Betty. I sure have missed you! Am glad that you are back.

Step Three

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him

 

This step was a biggie for me because it was my first step. For so long I had prayed that God would help me help my alcoholic husband. God didn't seem to hear my prayers. I got no relief and found no peace. Then, I begin praying that God would help my alcoholic husband. I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I went to my church to be alone and pray. I felt God still was not hearing my prayers. I felt alone and I wondered why God was not hearing my prayers.  Finally, a few months ago, I reached my " bottom", and I prayed to God to help ME! He heard my prayer and led me to al-anon. I am now understanding that I could NOT help my husband, I could not even help myself. I know God heard all of my prayers and was with me all along, but what my God needed me to see was how sick I had become.

When I walked through those doors, I knew I was where I needed to be. This is when I turned my will and my life over to my HP. I needed to be "fixed." I trust my HP with everything that is in me. I do not want to go a minute without His guidance. When I feel myself trying to take my will back from my HP, I stop immediately and say the Serenity Prayer, and I give thanks to my God for the awareness of what I was trying to do.

I know I need to be patient and understanding of others and I need to stop trying to inflict my will on others. I don't know what God has in store for other people. I only know that I need to be supportive and encouraging with anyone who has been touched by alcoholism. I remember going into our local grocery store and while I was waiting in the check out line, a man got in line behind me. I could smell alcohol on him. I remember feeling very repulsed by this. I think I even turn around and snarled my lip at the old man. Now, I am so sorry I did that.

I am willing to turn my problems, big and small over to my HP, and I will wait on my HP's guidance. I will ask my HP to bless me with patience in dealing with the problems that arise in my life.

 

 

When I am having rough times, it gives me peace to visualize turning my will/ situation over to God.  It is an instant peace that I feel..almost like my whole self sighs an " oh yeah,  I can let go".  My mind instantly loosens up.  I love it.

Thanks for sharing, I struggle with this step in a way because I forget and do my own thing as the day goes on. I say the steps, go to meetings, read the books and I do want to do hps will and I get the feeling its just doing the right thing, the logical thing but I can loose the focus and I can be impulsive, gossipy, hurried, irritable, judgmental and I know that is my will. When I work hard at hps will im thoughtful, take time over tasks, conversations, and I can be kind and understanding and I feel much better.

I think I trust my higher power, I did for a good while and I was so much happier, just knowing that I wasnt god and I could let go of searching endlessly for solutions gave me freedom. Lately, Im struggling to trust my higher power, im operating more on my fears rather than trusting what will happen is for the best. It could be that my ego has got inflated again and im relying on super me. Im not sure what the barrier is exactly.

Connecting with my higher power each day, through my gratitude list helps me. I also use the serenity prayer at certain point throughout my day and it helps me stay in his will and not mine. Contacting my sponsor more often, maybe making a god box, ive been meaning to do that for ages.

I can see others as god sees them from not letting my ego or pride grow too big. I can get above myself and forget that we are all made up of good and bad parts. Im no different, no better or worse than anyone else.

I am willing to turn my problems over, but what problems and how do I do it? I have done this through writing letters or praying but im not too goid at this part. Sometimes I feel unworthy, the old feelings like its my own fault so fix it yourself creeps in. Or the martyrdom part comes back again. I will suffer because im great kind of thing. I need to practice this. I know that my will doesnt work, his will is better and works but its a hard habit to make. I am willing though to try and make it a habit. Thank you.

I absolutely trust my higher power to care for me, anytime I feel myself starting to fret or worry, I am reminded that HP has a plan and he would never abandon me. God put us, each and everyone of us here on this earth for a reason, we are all his children, with all our faults and short comings, it is up to us to learn from our mistakes. God continues to provide for us if we listen and take heed, life is not meant to be easy, at least not all the time, otherwise there would be no growth or reward. These are the things I think about when times get tough. Turning my problems over to HP in real trying times and talking them over with him always points me in the right direction.