Step 3

In recovery, I perform step 3 every morning by praying the 3rd step prayer as soon as I wake up. I turn my will and life over to my higher power. I do this because if I try to run my life bad things usually happen. I turn my will and my life over to God as I understand Him. Just what do I mean by that, and just what do I do?

Step 3 – “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him”

So what are we turning over exactly?

We are turning over our former lower “life”, our old ways of doing things, our own emotions and feelings of being egotistical, delusional, selfish, unconsciously reactive, negative, destructive, paranoid, jealous, petty, needy, etc. This is where our lower-life comes from, our lower, basal instincts. This is what being a low-life is. : )

When we do the third step prayer, we turn to our “higher self”, one that is conscientious, helpful, mindful, contemplative, responsive, warm, caring, and loving. We become servants, as opposed to demanding everything. We are free from the bondage of self, looking outward as opposed to inward.

If we are to get and stay sober, we need to live less from the lower and more from the higher self — the before and after, the changed person. There are two parts – our will and our life. Our will is our intention, which leads to action, and this leads to poor choices and actions, we need to look at our motivation and intent – what do we want out of our lives?

Not seeking perfection, but rather changing our course of existence, pointing us in the right direction, we get alignment with our creator and the universe (laws of karma). With alcoholism we are trying to circumvent the laws of the universe, to lie, cheat, steal, harm – and we turn away from God, away from life and turn to death.

When we turn it over we become more clear on how we want to live, we change our intentions and motivations. We must do this consciously through prayer and meditation. We LET GO, and trust the laws of the universe and of God.

What do you want out of your life? You can have happiness (sobriety), or you can have death and despair (alcoholism). You need to choose one, they are impossible to have simultaneously.

3rd Step Prayer

God, I offer myself to Thee – To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the 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.”