(This posting is continued from front page. To return, click here.) The following is from 12 Step Organization Webpage, which is not an official AA or NA site, but offers specific discussion of the spiritual aspect of 12 Step recovery.
Most of those who have succeeded in the Twelve Step Program attribute their success to its spiritual nature. These are the ones who thank God for their release from addiction slavery. They know their release was beyond their ability because they often sought their self-healing by will power. Will power always failed them. Freedom from addiction came only after they met the Twelve Step Program. The testimonies of those who have "made the program" always give credit for their success to their "Higher Power," who usually is called God as seen in Step Five. In my personal experience with the Twelve Step Program, I have found there are two important keys for improving our spiritual life and spiritual growth. First, I discovered a simple key was to properly take Step Three. Properly done, the step is simple. Properly done, it allows anyone to move quickly ahead with the Steps that follow. My experience is that those who did not "make the program" are those who never completed the third step. While the "Big Book" clarifies the key element of Step Three, reading the Step as it is written can confuse a new comer. The step says "We made a decision" but doesn't say what to do with that decision. I call this decision part Step Three (a). Step Three (b) is in the Big Book, page 63, paragraph two, lines 14-19. That paragraph offers wording for a prayer. Making a decision must be joined to knowing what to do with the decision. There must be action! Make your decision, then go to a private place. When alone, read the prayer on page 63. Can you pray this prayer to your higher power? You must if you are ever going to enjoy the benefits of the Twelve Step Program. The suggested prayer is: "God, I offer myself to you - to build me and do with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do your will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of your power, your love, and The Way of life. May I do your will always!" This is a prayer of surrender of yourself and all your rights and belongings to God to do with as he pleases. Because God is smarter than us, and loves us more than we love ourselves, he will always do a better job running our lives than we can do for ourselves. WARNING! ON REACHING THIS STEP, WE HAVE ADMITTED OUR PRIOR LIFE HAS BEEN OUT OF CONTROL AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE INTERNAL PEACE AND EXTERNAL SUCCESS WE HAVE BEEN SEEKING. WITH THIS PRAYER WE ARE ASKING OUR HIGHER POWER - OUR MAKER- TO REMAKE US INTO ANOTHER AND CHANGED PERSON. ARE YOU WILLING TO BE COMPLETELY CHANGED, TO FIND AND LIVE BY THE SPIRITUAL RULES OF CREATION, TO BE REMADE IN YOUR MAKER'S LIKENESS, BE GOD GUIDED, AND ACCEPT THE CHANGES THIS PRAYER WILL BRING INTO YOUR LIFE? TOTAL WILLINGNESS TO BE REMADE, AND TO FOLLOW GOD'S GUIDANCE, IS NECESSARY TO WIN THE ABUNDANT LIFE OUR MAKER - OUR HEAVENLY FATHER - PROMISES HIS CHILDREN. GOD IS DESCRIBED AS "HEAVENLY FATHER" IN THE BIG BOOK BY DR. BOB, p. 181. THERE HE WROTE, "YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN." SINCERELY OFFERED, THIS PRAYER WILL MAKE POWERFUL AND POSITIVE CHANGES IN YOUR PERSONALITY AND FUTURE LIFE. BILL W., IN THE BIG BOOK CALLS THIS BEING "REBORN"(p 63).
excerpt from 12 Step Organization Webpage.
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