1) Have we omitted anything?
2) Is our work solid so far?
3) Are the stones properly in place?
4) Have we skipped on the cement put into the foundation?
5) Have we tried to make motor without sand?
If we can answer these questions in the affirmative, then we have completed the first five steps in such a way that we have acquired the humility necessary to be entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
The Big Book of AA states "if we can answer to our satisfaction, we then look at Step Six. We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable. Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can God now take them all, every one? If we can answer in the affirmative we have then completed Step Six.
The Seventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous is "humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings." In the Step Book it states "this lack of anchorage to any permanent values, this blindness to the true purpose of our lives produced another bad result, for just as long as we convinced ourselves that we could live by our own individual strength and intelligence, for just that long was a working faith in a higher power impossible. This was true even though we believed God existed. As long as we placed self reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a higher power was impossible. THE BASIC INGREDIENT of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing."
I have learned through experience that belief in God is not enough, that we must trust in God in every area of our lives, even as our every day life unfolds. The purpose of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is to bring us from a thought process propelled by our human desires to a thought process propelled by the will of God. In the will of God our defects that exist in our human nature cannot possibly be manifested in our behavior. And it is only through true humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, that that can occur. We can free ourselves from the bondage of self, we can trust in God in all things and, if so, we are protected from the disease of Alcoholism.
Written by Armand
In the Sixth Step, I have become entirely ready to have my character defects removed and, thus, to have my instincts returned to their proper place as my greatest assets instead of what they had become - my greatest liabilities. In other words, I have become willing to cease fighting for MORE of what it is I think I need, and to live in the simple spirit of ENOUGH. In the Sixth Step, the spiritual groundwork is set for The Seventh Step wherein I will begin to learn and practice living in accordance with my life's purpose. As you point out, that can only occur when I become humble enough to let go of my fear-based ego and turn to The Power Within me for guidance, direction and love in all things and in all ways. In Step Six, I can finally let go of the actor. And in Step Seven, I can humbly meet the man I was born to be. It is then that I will be anchored to permanent values. It is then that I will clearly see the purpose of my existence. And it is then that I can joyfully give myself away.
ReplyDeleteMichael when we become the human being that God created us to be we have maximised our human potential...Thank you...Armand
DeleteThank you for clearly laying out the beginning, during and after of these hugely impactful steps. Beautiful. The intimacy that happens between the alcoholic, sponsor and God is beyond words or metaphors. It is in these moments that we experience God's love and forgiveness, which for me was the first time in my life. I got a glimpse into the Spirit and felt His love for me. I get to share that experience with others as they feel the freedom God can deliver us to in this life. The kingdom of God is all around us if we just open our hearts to Him. These steps that you covered today, as outlined by Bill and the first 100, provided me with the freedom to live as a child of God.
ReplyDeleteJim the grace of God is available to each and everyone of us. Alcoholism forced us to pay the price necessarry to receive it...Thank you...Armand
DeleteArmand,
ReplyDeleteFor well over 30 years I've shared the historical and Biblical foundation for the 12 Steps of AA as it is clearly found in 2 Chronicles 7:14-15. This divine promise well worth repeating: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." And as St. Peter further tells us in Acts 3:19 "that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
Consider God's promise gleaned from above, "Then I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The clear declaration is that God himself will do for us what we could not, and cannot do for ourselves... We need merely admit powerlessness over our misaligned appetites and offer our myriad malignancy's for removal by the Divine Surgeon's hand and; it will be done according to His will and perfect timing. This is the essence of Steps 6 and 7.
I need only confess my specific sins, faults and failures and He promises to release me from the prison of sinful acts and actions that had heretofore captured every aspect of my former existence. Isaiah 43:18-19 becomes my new reality "Do not remember the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it will spring forth; shall you not know it?" Yes, by His Spirit who now resides inside me I do. He has carried me a long way on this journey through life. There is yet a long way to go but oh what a journey it is...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic one of my favorite Biblical passages which truly encompasses the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous...Thank you...Armand
DeleteI am so grateful to have been introduced to you and this community. Thank you Armand, thank you community, thank you Fellowship and Program of recovery for providing a pathway back to God. He never left!
ReplyDeleteUnknown Glad that you found us and are a contibuting member...Thank you...Armand
DeleteSorry, Al B.
ReplyDelete