When I first walked through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous I had no idea what to expect. Though quickly I was able to see what worked in others - a belief in and dependence upon God. As Bill once said "Would I have it? Of course I would."The Sixth Step of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is "We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character." We learn through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that alcohol is but a symptom of our true malady, our true malady is in fact self-centered fear. We are afraid we are not going to get what we want, afraid that we are going to lose what we have. Once our fears are triggered we reach for our character defects in an attempt to satiate our human instincts. The dictionary defines defect as, "the lack of something necessary for completion or perfection."
We learn in the Fourth Step of the program that it is necessary to find out what it is about us that keeps the Grace of God from our lives. It is in doing this that we discover the exact nature of our wrongs, as we make the list of our defects. In the Fifth Step of the program we confess our character defects. Then, in the Sixth Step, we are entirely ready and willing to have these defects removed.
It is our character defects that keep us from the perfection of God - from becoming the human being God created each of us to be and not the self-centered people who care only for their human desires and what they think they need in life. A person who is willing to use almost any means necessary to fulfill their desires is sick.
With all of our human flaws we can become the being God created us to be when we turn from our human naturWe and surrender to His will.
Written By Armand
After many years in the program of recovery, I am certain that my ultimate purpose in this life is to become the person I was born to be. Without presumption, it makes sense that this same purpose can and does exist for everyone. The question is how do we achieve this level of spiritual acknowledgment? Through what means can we be presented with the ultimate gift? First and foremost, it was alcohol that finally drove me to my knees in abject despair. With my very existence in the balance, I conceded to my innermost self that I was powerless. I surrendered - the first step in recovery. I then learned, though not an overnight matter, that I had to integrate all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that they would re-define and refine my life. And that this integration process would place me on the path to realizing myself through The Power Within me. Powerful versus powerless. Meaningful versus meaningless. My life.
ReplyDeleteMichael if in fact we are the person God created us to be we have maximized our nature...Thank you...Armand
ReplyDeleteThanks for Sharing Armand,
ReplyDeleteOne of the greatest saints who ever lived wrote of this nearly 2000 years ago and I'll defer to the problem he identified and the solution he discovered and discloses in Romans 7: 14 - 24
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
And so I start each day with this prayer; Dear Lord Jesus, I respond now to Your invitation. You have called me to place into Your capable hands the trials and tribulations within me and about me. Help me to turn my cares over to You, and to rest in the assurance that Your solutions are greater than my problems. Give me a clear head and a trusting heart as I press onward on the path You have clearly marked before me just for today. Help me to continually uncover through this day the peace, serenity and assurance that is the immutable fabric of a life lived in constant communication with You as you enable me more and more to live in Your your presence my true Savior and Lord.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic
A Grateful Recovering Alcoholic morning prayer and meditation is necessary to surrender our nature to the will of God...Thank you...Armand
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