The importance of Step Three is that a decision is made (in fact it is a final choice) for our thought process to no longer be propelled by our human instincts (our self will) but rather by the will of God through inspiration. Inspiration is defined as, "the thoughts of God implanted in the mind and soul of man." The Third Step is, "We mad e a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him." In the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous in the chapter "How It Works" it states, "The first requirement (in taking the Third Step) is that we be convinced that any life run on self will can hardly be a success." As stated prior to this, "Remember that we deal with alcohol, cunning, baffling, powerful. Without help it is to much for us. But there is One who has all power -that One is God. May you find Him now!" The chapter goes further in stating, "Selfishness - self-centerednes! That, we think, is the root of our troubles... So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self will run riot..." Self will is our thought process propelled by our human instincts. In the Big Book it says "above everything we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness and there seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid."
I learned in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that we have three basic instincts, a social, sexual and security instinct. These instincts are God given and necessary for life but in us we can never get enough of what it is we think we need . The great psychiatrist Sigmund Freud defines an instinct as "a bodily need manifested in our thought process." It is there that our character defects exist - but these same defects, which will always exist to some extent in our human nature, cannot possibly be manifested in our behavior when our thought process is propelled by God's will, through inspiration.
Written By Armand
As Step's 1 & 2 imply, the initial catalyst for reaching out to the God of my understanding was absolute desperation... I had exhausted every other known earthly option or avenue that would, or could, have extricated me from the dilemma and consequences of a life lived to satisfy my every wayward wonton desire. I had, with few exceptions, deliberately chosen to live a life in direct opposition to the known will of God whenever my unsated appetites beckoned. Finding myself, by my own design, on the precipice of an eternity in a continuous living hell I found myself finally forced to not only abandon my lifestyle but completely reject every ounce of control over living life as I understood it. I surrendered my future into Gods hands and waited as His plan for me unfolded.
ReplyDeleteThere was no employment of my well honed negotiating skills. No shallow foxhole prayers, only to immediately fall back to my alcohol fueled journey into debauchery once the immediate crisis had passed. This time was different. This alcoholic knew it was an ignominious and eternal death or complete surrender. And as I later learned; that revelation, like a white hot lightning bolt that burst into the core of my being, was a gift from a Loving Father that had not, and will not ever give up on me. Nor, will he ever give up on anyone who earnestly makes that decision..
My entire life of rebellion was instantaneously revealed in space and time. Yet, immersed in that prayerful encounter with the God of all Eternity was an overwhelming Presence of love and compassion beyond telling. He wasn't asking for all that I was willing to surrender at that time, but the one thing I still wished to hold back... Yet, as Jesus lovingly beckoned, I finally, fatefully spiritually collapsed and surrendered the one thing that had always stood in the way of my redemption, me...
And as I later poured out my life at His feet in Step 5, all of the guilt and shame associated with my past was immediately washed away. I was, in the most profound sense reborn... From that point on following the Steps was assured. Not easy... but assured, and has, together with study and inspired implementation of His Word brought me into a time of refreshment and joy of living that is well beyond my wildest dreams. Even during this time of crisis brought on by the current global pandemic I have no real fear. Today, when life reveals some nebular perplexity, when the future seems ominous or unsecured, I harken back to that time many years ago when I first surrendered... And was accepted warts and all, by the Person of God through Jesus Christ who recalls to my mind our very first real encounter and the continuous lyric of that day; "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me... I was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see"..
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic.
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic similar to you I had exhausted myself in an attempt not to drink. I was completely devoid of all physical energy before I began the surrender which eventually led me to a real life...Thank you...Armand
DeleteIn it's strength, commitment, and raw power, my will is extraordinary. It can fly through the sky, leap tall buildings in a single bound, find me the girl of my dreams. It can also savage my existence, annihilating all things worthwhile in my life. My will is simply the workhorse of my mind; it has no mind of it's own. Just unfiltered, brute force as it carries out the duties of its self-centered master. Thus, I must turn to another mind for relief, or I must utilize the mind I'm stuck with. I can't fix the broken hammer with the hammer that's broken.Is there no other choice? Not only have you answered that ultimate question in this post but you have outlined the direct process necessary to bring about the desired result - Inspiration! My mind must be transformed by The Power Within me through the integration of all Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that I intuitively understand The Other Will within me. Mine and Not Mine at once and at the same time. The Great Gift, The Great Paradox. The Proper Use of The Will. The Truth.
ReplyDeleteMichael. To recover it is necessary that An Alcoholic surrender all of their nature. Once accomplished they than receive the power to help others as one cannot give Away that which they don't have...Thank you...Armand
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ReplyDeleteI Surrendered to the will of God-that is where I can live more freely, trust and deepen my faith. I knew I needed and wanted God. I was to seek and find him. My self-will is strong but self-reliance failed me. My circumstances made me willing to believe...perhaps there is a better way, trusting and believing in God.
ReplyDeleteGod does for me what I cannot do for myself. He guided me to a place of calm inner peace and the ability to match calamity with serenity. I can be still, pray and continue to seek knowledge of gods will for me the the power to carry it out.
Jessica if one is to recover from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and bod one must live in the will of God...Thank you...Armand
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