The Purpose Of Step Four
In the Third Step we made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. The Fourth Step is the next step in the process, the purpose of which is to find out what it is about me that is keeping the grace of God from my life. It is through the grace of God that the healing occurs.
Many spiritual traditions include a deep and thorough look at the past to discover the truth of what is uncovered. Alcoholics Anonymous is no different. As we work through the Fourth Step we may get the sense that the completed program of Alcoholics Anonymous will allow us possibly for the first time, to be living our lives as God originally intended us to - free of the manifestation in our behavior of resentment, fear and anxiety. We will then become the human beings God created us to be and we will maximize our human potential, as the manifestation of our human nature is perfected in the will of God.
Written by Armand
Many spiritual traditions include a deep and thorough look at the past to discover the truth of what is uncovered. Alcoholics Anonymous is no different. As we work through the Fourth Step we may get the sense that the completed program of Alcoholics Anonymous will allow us possibly for the first time, to be living our lives as God originally intended us to - free of the manifestation in our behavior of resentment, fear and anxiety. We will then become the human beings God created us to be and we will maximize our human potential, as the manifestation of our human nature is perfected in the will of God.
Written by Armand
After many successfully sober years in AA, I found that I was still spiritually blocked. Thus, I was unable to realize the fruits of transformation nor was I able to give freely of anything deeply meaningful. As you point out, I had to find and face what it was about me that had kept vision, action and grace from my life. The dark and negative side of my nature had remained an uncompromising undercurrent in the daily living of my life. Yet, I yearned to be free. It was only when another man took me through The Big Book word by word, page by page that I became open and willing enough to confront myself. In the final analysis, I liked what I found - The Power Within me - to guide me through the action of integrating the remaining Steps into my life in such a way that they have become my life. Step Four is the miraculous process which transformed my existence from one of dis-grace to one of grace. As Harry Emerson Fosdick, a Bill Wilson contemporary stated, self-confrontation is the beginning of a meaningful life. Today I lead a meaningful life.
ReplyDeleteMichael in AA one cannot drink and still not enjoy the fruits of a surrendered life to the will of God...Thank you...Armand
DeleteI believe before we can allow God into our hearts, we need to make room for Him. A thorough and effective
ReplyDelete4th step is the beginning of the action necessary we need to take that makes that room possible for God. My daughter sent me this quote that puts steps 4 through 9 into perspective.
"Once a man was asked, 'what did you gain by regularly praying to God?' The man replied, 'nothing...but let me tell you what I lost: Anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity, and fear of death.' Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is not gaining but losing; which ultimately is the gain." - (via ankaheebatein)
It is in the identification and understanding of our character defects in step four that prepares us for making room in steps 5 through 9. Our step 4 does not need to be perfect, but done as honestly and sincerely as you can at the time you do it. The role of the sponsor during this critical time is crucial. The step can not be rushed and completed as outlined in the Big Book. Compassion with the responsibility to help their sponsee with honesty and completeness in order to identify all the character defects and people we have harmed and remove all the roadblocks that has held us at bay spiritually. Our goal is, through our alcoholism, is to lead our fellow alcoholics to God.
Jim the back half of the 11th Step says "praying only for the knowledge Of God's will for us, and the Power to carry it out."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteSteps 3 through 7 are so dynamically intertwined it's hard for me to spiritually separate them. In Step 3, I made a decision. In Step 4, I begin to act upon it. The subject of the inventory was to seek out the location of my moral compass and the direction the needle points. If I am fearless, I'll admit it's been buried in the belly of the beast for a long time, a very, very long time... And like all things buried it had entirely lost its ability to function. It's glass was missing, the needle gone, its face illegible and caked with the mud of a misspent life. It was beyond my ability to restore. A miracle was called for. In Step 5, I furtively showed it to the Master. In Step 6, I firmly placed it in His hand. In Step 7, I asked Him to restore it and place it in my heart. There it sits to this day, surrounded and protected by His loving hands.
ReplyDeleteA Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic loved when you wrote "the mud of a misspent Life."...Thank you...Armand
DeleteAfter taking step 3, I abandon myself to God, ready to take action and begin writing my inventory in step 4. I want to face and be rid of the things that have been blocking me.
ReplyDeleteThe truth will set me free, being thorough and honest allows me to move forward in hope of the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience. I know that I must be free of anger. Self-reliance has failed me and I alone cannot solve the fear problem.
I need to be on a different basis, the basis of trusting and relying upon God. I am in the world to play the role God assigns me. I can choose to humbly rely on God, in doing so he will enable me to match calamity with serenity. I ask God to remove my fears and direct my attention to what he would have me be. I can trust that I will begin to outgrow fear.
Jessica you have articulated the Purpose Of Step Four...Thank you...Armand
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