The Month of March brings us to Step Three ... We will have Step Devotionals every Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday and sometimes on Mondays ... Tuesdays and Thursdays Sobriety Devotionals ...

Just for Today! -- Step Three -- Turn It Over ...

STEP THREE: Involves a decision to let GOD be in charge of My Life.

I make a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of GOD through Jesus Christ

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of GOD’s  mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to GOD - which is your spiritual worship." -- Romans 12:1

Promise: We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.

Third Step Prayer~ (Page 63 - A. A. Big Book)

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,

May I do Thy will always!

WORKING STEP THREE

Step three culminates a process begun in Steps One and Step Two.  When we get to Step 3, we have worked, with God’s help, the first two Steps to the best of our ability.  I admitted my life was out of control and unmanageable, and I came to believe that God could restore me to sanity.

But even after taking the first two steps we can still be stuck in the cycle of failure that keeps us bound by guilt, anger, fear, and depression.

How do we get past those old familiar negative barriers of pride, fear, guilt, worry, and doubt—those barriers that keep us from taking Step Three?  The answer is action!

Step Three is all about ACTION.  It states: “We choose to commit ...”  Making a choice requires action.   A common recovery phrase used in Twelve Step groups is "Turn It Over".  For me that means turning over to God's care not only the major, conspicuous addictions like Drugs, alcohol, sexual impurity, overeating, over spending, ... etc.  It means turning over every aspect of my life, even the small frustrations involved in dealing with people, or dealing with traffic, or co-workers.  In the face of these irritations, I say time and time again "Turn It Over, turn it over, turn it over."

Step Three invites me to get out of the center of my universe and hand that place back to God.  We become more self-centered and self-preoccupied as I seek to address the pain, yet self-preoccupation itself creates more pain, loneliness and isolation.  Almost everyone knows the difference between right and wrong, but most people don’t like making decisions.  Well I just follow the crowd because it’s easier than making the decision to do what I know is right.  I procrastinate making commitments that will allow change to occur from the pain of my hurt, hang-ups, and habits.  My addictions pull me more deeply into its pain cycle.  In order to surmount the pain cycle, ultimately I must step out of myself and look beyond.

Did you know that “to not decide is to decide”?

Do you know putting off the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Higher Power, Lord, and Savior really is making the decision not to accept Him?

Step Three is like opening the door: All you need is the Willingness to make the decision.  Jesus Christ does the rest!

He said, “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” -- Revelation 3:20.

Bill W., founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, got this step turned around.  I believe that we must first commit and surrender our lives to the true Higher Power, Jesus Christ, and then we are able to turn over our wills to Him. 

When I choose to live this principle, I consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.

How do I do that?  How do I turn my life and will over to my Higher Power, Jesus Christ?

Step Three culminates a process started in Steps One and Two.  In Step One, I admitted my life was out of control and that I was powerless to change things through my own power.  In Step Two, I renounced every old god I had been worshipping as powerless to save me and looked to a Higher Power to restore me to wholeness.  

In Step Three, I recognize GOD as the higher power and ask Him to assume control over and care of every aspect of my life.

I work Step Three by going through a decision-making process.  Think of other big decisions that I have made in my life.  I take time to contemplate the changes. 

Step Three invites us to get out of the center of our universe and hand that place back to GOD.  As we move into any addiction or dependency, we tend to become more self-centered, self-absorbed, and self-preoccupied in trying to address the pain driving the addiction. 

And finally, I make a decision that GOD is the only one able to manage my life, that His will for me is best.

GOALS FOR STEP THREE

·        Describe the twofold nature of Step Three.

·        Describe the biblical concept of repentance.

·        Describe the complete forgiveness Christ gives.

·        Have an opportunity to express personal faith in GOD.

·        Describe the ongoing process of applying Step to practical problems.

Prayer of commitment to GOD:

Dear Jesus,

Thank YOU for making me and loving me,

even when I ignored you and gone my own way. 

I realize I need You in my life

and I’m sorry for my past behavior. 

I ask You to forgive me. 

As much as I know how, I want to follow You from now on.

Please come into my life and

make me a new person inside. 

I accept Your gift of salvation. 

Please help me to grow now as a Christian.

Amen.

How to hear GOD’s Word

“Faith comes from hearing the Word of GOD”  Romans 10:17

Ways to hear GOD’s Word

·           The Bible on tape and Bible studies.

·           Church services and studies.

·           Sermon tapes

·           Radio/TV teachers.

·           Christian Twelve Step Groups.

1.     How to improve your hearing
Be ready and eager to hear GOD.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear”  Luke 8:8
“…Be quick to listen…”  James 1:19

2.  Deal with attitudes that prevent hearing GOD.  Luke 8:4-15
“Consider carefully how you listen…”  Luke 8:18

·        A Closed Mind: Is fear, pride or bitterness preventing me from hearing GOD?

·        A Superficial Mind: Am I really serious about wanting to hear GOD speak?

·        A Preoccupied Mind: Am I too busy and concerned (preoccupied) with other things to concentrate on what GOD has to say?

3.  Confess any sin in your life.

“…Get rid of all moral filth and humbly accept the Word…”  James 1”21

4.  Take notes on what you hear.

“We must pay more careful attention to what we’ve heard so that we do not drift away!”  -- Hebrews 2:1

5.  Act on what you hear!

“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says!”  James 1:22

“Whoever… does not simply listen and then forget it, but puts it into practice - that person will be blessed in what he does.”  James 1:25

STEP THREE: Involves a decision to let GOD be in charge of My Life.

I make a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of GOD through Jesus Christ

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of GOD’s  mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to GOD - which is your spiritual worship." -- Romans 12:1

Promise: We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.

Third Step Prayer~ (Page 63 - A. A. Big Book)

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,

May I do Thy will always!

Prayer of commitment to GOD:

Dear Jesus,

Thank YOU for making me and loving me,

even when I ignored you and gone my own way. 

I realize I need You in my life

and I’m sorry for my past behavior. 

I ask You to forgive me. 

As much as I know how, I want to follow You from now on.

Please come into my life and

make me a new person inside. 

I accept Your gift of salvation. 

Please help me to grow now as a Christian.

Amen.

To help you understand what the Scriptures say about surrendering your will and life to GOD, 

·        Matthew 11:28-30

·        Matthew 16:21-26

·        Ephesians 2:8, 9

·        Psalm 3:5, 6

·        Psalm 23

·        Psalm 19:1-4

·        Proverbs 3:5, 6

**********************************

*************************************************************

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

·        greater personal discipline,

·        worldwide persecuted Christians,

·        Hedge of protection to our children

·        Blessings to our spouses

·        Godly men in Government

·        Rest and Peace to our pastors

·        Your activities for the day.

Love One Another

Stand Together

Fight this war, no matter the cost

Pray for our children

Turn our hearts toward heaven

Seek to be one nation under God.

God Bless and Guide You in your Christian Walk Today

“The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
-- Numbers 6:24-27

You can help when no one else can."
  -- c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
**********************************