Step 3
"
Made the decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him."
The most important words for me in Step 3 are as I understand God. I was brought up Catholic. These days I don't know what my higher power is. I call my higher power God because its comforting. But I'm not religious at all. I believe in something, but what I don't know.
For me step three isn't telling me or you or anyone to go to church. Sure go to church if thats what you choose. But the beauty of step 3 is and all the steps really, is find a power greater than yourself that you've comfortable with. Whether it be God or Jesus or Allah or the Universe or just our own good conscience.
My friend says that for her step 3 was a decision to continue with the rest of the steps, to continue with the sober way of life. I like that approach. I also like the way I percieve the first three steps, and I relate the first 3 steps to anything I'm struggling with, whether it be sobriety or some tough decision. 1. I can't. 2. God (as I understand God) can. 3. I think I'll let God. So when something is too big, I say "Ok I can't do this. You take over." Thats my 3rd step. I don't use fancy lingo. I just say "you take it". "You" being whatever my higher power is.
I still believe I have free will. One of the last sentences in the 3rd step in the 12x12 says, "It is when we try to make our will conform with God's that we begin to use it rightly." To me that means, if I'm doing the next right thing, and doing whats best for me, then I'm aligning my will with God's will for me. My higher power of my understanding just wants me to be happy and sober. I can tell when I'm going off course, I don't feel right. But when I make the right decision for myself, it feels right. I've learned to trust my gut in that respect, and for me, my gut is my higher power talking to me.
When you're struggling with a step, its a good idea to go back to the one before it. Maybe read the second step again, and see where that takes you.
and GREAT topic!!!!!