step three

Now that we have come to believe in a Power greater than ourselves, what do we do?  This brings us to step three.

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

      Taken from the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions  pg34

In the book the words "as we understood Him" are underlined but I don't know how to do that so this is what we get.  LOL!!

These words are important because they give us the freedom to come to our own conclusion as to what we will believe in.  There doesn't have to be any conforming to what somebody else believes God is.   Once I had an understanding of what I think God is then the first part of step three became the difficult part.  Turning my will over?  Everything?  It isn't something that comes easily for me but I understand at this point that I at least need to be willing.  When there is willingness there is a beginning, and a beginning is all that is needed for my faith to grow.  For me a lot of this has to do with accepting life on life's terms.  Often the right path is laid out for me.  I am grateful for that.  Some things are easier for me to turn over and others are extremely difficult.  Even when I want to let go there is still something inside me that hangs on till very end.  This step required me to practice quite often.

I can honestly say that I don't know Gods will for me before it happens.  I personnally believe that God is in control of everything.  I believe that everything that happens is God's will.  Weather or not I judge it as Good or bad it is still God's will.  Here comes the other way of looking at "as we understood Him."  When my mind is clear and I am "in the moment", meaning that I am seeing things unfold as they happen,  I can be blessed with the ability to understand as they happen.  I hope that makes sense.  LOL!

"made a decision"  was probably the easiest part for me at the time.  I was thoroughly beat up and wanted to change.  I understood that everything I knew, that the very best I could do got me to a point where I was broken.  If I wanted to live I needed to learn a new way.  When I asked God for help He gave me the steps, the fellowship and other drunks and addicts to help.  He let me know that I am to be service minded and be willing to help whenever I am asked.  I try to do that to the best of my ability.

Step three still requires a lot of practice today.  There are things that I want to do but that is just selfish thinking.  God often has other plans.  Thanks for letting me share.

[ibizan]

I don't believe that everything that happens is God's will....i won't get graphic on ugly examples of what humans do to one another,this earth,its resources and creatures....u know what i mean!I believe that humans have free will and they can choose wisely to use it for themselves and their fellow humans..or to stumble selfishly and blindly in this world on a path of confusion.I try to keep my will simple...no alcohol/drugs,being honest with myself and responsible with my behavior,helping those help themselves....i find that if i keep it simple...be honest and make wise choices i have done a Step and am not aware that i've done it!I read in a Hazleden book that prayer is nothing more than talking to the power of ur choosing......and calming ur mind.....i do a lot of mind calming!I like the NA acronym for God....Good Orderly Direction!