Third Step Prayer:
“God, I offer myself to you – to build with me and do with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self that I might 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 your way of life. May I do your will always” slightly modernized (exchanged the “thou’s,” “thy’s, and “wilt’s”) from the book: Alcoholics Anonymous, page 63.
With all the imagination we could muster, we could not have choreographed the life we are living today better than where we sit at this point in time. As a matter of record, our big plans of the past are, in retrospect, laughable. Today, our quality of life is not defined by our earthly assets. Instead, we find value in intangibles such as faith, love, and service.
We didn’t get to this place quickly and without many missteps along the way. And, we are not where we think we could be should we surrender our will more consistently. We are not saints. We have learned that we don't beat ourselves up about our shortcomings and weaknesses. Conversely, we stay on the spiritual path the best we can, trusting that it will take us to a station of hope, serenity, and peace.
We recognize that this transformation does not happen by osmosis. We must make conscious decisions and commit to action to succeed in our desire to live our life’s purpose.
Before our point of surrender, “self” drove us, and we could never deliver enough. More was less, and fulfillment was a moving target. Our grandiose plans were built on a foundation of self-indulgence and ego. It was all about us; we could never satisfy the contentment tank’s constant need for more.
Today we get what's important, not what we think we need. We have what we have and are driven by what we can give. It is no longer about “how much” but “how many.” It is not about the size of the give; it is about the heart of the give.
We are being rewarded by staying true to the intangibles:
Faith
This is the rock on which we stand. We have put our faith and trust in the God of the Bible. We accept that His ultimate plan will unfold here on earth, in the heavens, and in the afterlife.
Being intentional, as Jesus was, we act out our faith the best we can by following the written word, listening to those more studied, and staying connected with other seekers who provide strength coaching in the spiritual gym.
Solid footing in faith requires surrender, as the more we surrender, the more we gain. When we let go of our little plans and let the creator of the universes deliver, we find that place where we are one with THE master plan.
Love
Love is the undergirding of all things human. To love and to be loved are essential elements found in the deepest crevasses of one’s soul.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest command is, he replied with this statement on love: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. Love God above all else. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Our turning point in approaching love was when we came to acknowledge that our neighbors are divinely created and loved by the creator and deserve our love and acceptance without condition.
Service
This is where faith and love come into action and where the great reward is recognized. What is the next right thing to do? It becomes obvious to us that if we are to live by the example Jesus set, then we are to live to give and not to get.
This could play out in small physical ways like opening doors, granting a smile, serving a cup of coffee, etc. Other service opportunities come in the form of giving our time- life’s most precious asset. It could be helping someone with a move or guiding someone down a path of freedom based on our own experiences. Or, it could be serving up monitorial, where possible.
The point is to do the unnatural until it becomes natural.
The payment comes back in indescribable ways. A person helped. A person healed. Most importantly, a person felt loved.
“Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well Established on such a footing, we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans, and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life.” from the book: Alcoholics Anonymous, page 63.
May faith, love, and service guide our steps,
Thoughts and ideas for this blog post were taken and built upon from asweunderstandhim.coffee podcast “Step 3 Part 2” The podcast dropped on 8/6/2023. Click here to hear the podcast.
Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash
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Alcoholics Anonymous and AA are registered trademarks of Alcoholics World Service. Inc. References to AA, the 12 steps, and 12 traditions does not mean that AA has reviewed or approved the contents of this publication nor that AA agrees with the views expressed herein. This publication is intended to support personal growth and should not be considered a substitute for healthcare professionals' advice. The author’s advice and viewpoints are their own.
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