Step Three

" Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him."

Now make note of the last part of this step. (As we understood him) this is a very important part of step three, a vital part, it will not work without this ingredient. The important aspect here is that it be a God of your choosing and understanding, it is not up to another member to tell you direct you , or in anyway tell you who or what your God is. This is a very personal and intimate relationship , so it absolutely needs to be the God of your choosing and understanding, someone Else's God will not work for you you have to be comfortable and at peace with your own God, in this way will you be able to do as the step asks- to turn your will and your life in complete abandon, trusting in faith your God. In time as with most of us your concept, faith, trust and perception of your God will grow and change. However it is vitally imperative that the concept , trust faith and perception of your God ins one that your are completely comfortable with now.

As we have gone through step one and conceded to our innermost self that our way hasn't worked, "that a life run of self will just has not worked, and as doing the work in step one seen that lack of power has been our dilemma, and through the work in step two have seen that there is a power greater than ourselves, and that it will restore us to a sane life. Now come the part to start taking action.

In other words, If we have seen we our "powerless regarding our additive self and behaviors have produced a undesirable life and seen also a way out a power greater than ourselves with a way out. What are we going to do about it?

First off as the step suggests we make a decision. That decision being to "turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

Now a very important decision has to be made . That being the God of our understanding. For how are we to turn our lives and our wills over to something that we have no concept, faith or belief in. Let me clarify this a little. To turn my will over is basically turning over my "thinking" so here we must have some concept , trust faith and belief of our God, for explanation purposes I will share mine , he is peaceful , loving, caring, non judgemental , like a caring doting father. Thus My will I try to align to his loving ,caring, non judgemental, thoughts and thinking, And as for turning my life- this is my behaviors and actions, thus my behaviors and actions need to be loving , caring and non judgemental. Now our lives no longer belongs to us, It belongs to the God of our understanding, doing his will , Not that I will not at times fail and try to take my life back, however it is at these times where my life will become once again unmanageable and painful. However that is part of the human condition. Like most of us you will struggle at continuously through your sobriety.

It must be noted here that just as no one has forced their concept of a higher power or God on us we do like wise and not force our concept and/or understanding of our God on another. Also It is vitally important for us to understand at this point. Just because our God may be peaceful, loving, non judgemental, in no way do we become "door mats" we stand for what we believe in, "To Thine Own Self Be True", We learn to be assertive NOT aggressive but assertive .
Always remembering that we can " Agree to disagree" we do not force our beliefs and/or ways on others and likewise have the dignity and measure not to have others ways and/or beliefs forced on us..

Now once we have gotten to the point of having our own concept, trust , faith and belief in our God. We get on our knees and most of us use the prayer in the Bi Book or basic text, and we say a prayer such as this" God, I offer myself to Thee--- to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of 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."
Now i know there is the constant debate over whether we need do actually get on our knees for this step. I believe the answer to be an resounding YES. It is a show of submission to your GOD. A sign of surrender. I know some of you'll say we are now persons of dignity who needed bend a knee to anyone. Well you your not bending knee to ANYONE but to your GOD. If there is further hesitation what is it really? perhaps EGO, or self will? I wonder if there is a real issue is it because you have not really surrendered in Step one, have you truly conceded to your inner most self? And have you truly done Step Two believe that there is a Power Greater than YOURSELF. I strongly suggest that you might want to revisit Steps One and Two.
remember God does not make garbage