Step 3 How it Works
“Made a DECISION to turn our WILL and our LIVES over to the care of God, (as we understood Him).” (Pg.59,¶2,L13). Myself-WILL is my thinking and my LIFE is the result of my actions. Because all actions start with thoughts my LIFE is determined by how I think.
Deciding is just making up my mind, but like deciding to clean my room, I must take actions to rid clutter and straighten things up. "First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work." (Pg.62,¶3,L25).
- Am I, “convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success?” (Pg.60,¶3,L24).
- a) Do I, “think life doesn’t treat me right.” b) Do I feel I’m, “somewhat at fault, but I’m sure that other people are more to blame.” c) Do I become, “angry, indignant and self-pitying ...a self-seeker ...a victim?” e) Do I cause, “confusion rather than harmony?” (Pg.61,¶1,L18-24).
- a) Is it possible, “Selfishness-self-centredness! ...is the root of my troubles?” b) Am I, “Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self- pity?” (Pg.62,¶1,L6).
- a) Can I admit, ” my troubles ...are basically of my own making?” b) Will I hope for change because, “They arise out of myself, and the alcoholic/addict is an extreme example of self-will run riot, although I usually don’t think so?” (Pg.62,¶2,L13).
- a) I must focus, “Above everything, as an alcoholic/addict to be rid of this selfishness... or it kills me! God makes that possible.”
b) But with my compulsive mind, “there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid" (Pg.62,¶2,L16).
- Do I realize, “to have God’s help …first of all, I have to quit playing God. It doesn’t work?” (Pg.62,¶3,L23).
- Will I concede, “God is going to be my Director... and I’m His agent ...good ideas are simple, so this concept is the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which I will pass to freedom?” (Pg.62,¶3,L25).
Just as a keystone supports all the other stones in any structure, so my 3rd Step decision supports my 12 step recovery!
- Do I realize God, “is the Father, and we are His children,” means everyone is my equal? (Pg.62,¶3,L26).
- Do I believe my, “new Employer. Being all powerful, will provide what I need, if I keep close to Him and perform His work well?” (Pg.63,¶1,L2)
- a) Will I let, “new power flow in to enjoy peace of mind, and discover I can face life successfully?” b) Would I like to “become conscious of His presence, and begin to lose my fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter?” c) Have I seen others who, “were reborn,” in mind and Spirit? (Pg.63,¶1,L8)
- What have I to lose, “My ideas did not work. But the God idea could?” (Pg.52,¶3,L23).
- a) Do I realize, “The wording is, of course, quite optional so long as I express the idea, voicing it without reservation?” (Pg.63,¶3,L25). b) I surrender by praying the; 3rd Step Prayer…
“to my Maker, as we understood Him: 'God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!” (Pg.63,¶2).
- Will I, “launch out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning?” (Pg.63¶4,L30).
- a) Do I understand my, “decision is a vital and crucial step, but it would have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in myself which have been blocking me?” b) Do I realize my “liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions?” (Pg.64,Top¶,L2)
- Will I ask God for the courage to be, “rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which I had not even dreamed?” (Pg.25,¶1,L13).
I substitute God for Selfishness & I stop using alcohol/drugs as rocket fuel!
Step 3 How it Works