I was talking to someone a week ago and suddenly they wanted to prove to me that they could recite the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. No idea why they wanted to share it, we were talking about his childhood on a farm. It was an out of the blue moment. When he was done reciting these steps, he said something else,
"But don't listen to what I say. Watch what I do. Then you will know if I speak worthy words."
As I have struggled for control over eating, this resonated with me. It feels like indeed, the next step. Beyond wrestling with food and counting calories. Like a junky or a drunk, I come broken to God with no other ideas left. ..
1. I admitted I was powerless over my addiction - that my life had become unmanageable
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than myself could restore me to sanity
3. Made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood God
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself
5. Admitted to God, to myself and to another human being the exact nature of my wrongs
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
7. Humbly asked God to remove my shortcomings
8. Made a list of all persons I had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when I was wrong promptly admitted it
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God as I understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for me and the power to carry that out
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, I tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all my affairs
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than myself could restore me to sanity
3. Made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood God
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself
5. Admitted to God, to myself and to another human being the exact nature of my wrongs
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
7. Humbly asked God to remove my shortcomings
8. Made a list of all persons I had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when I was wrong promptly admitted it
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with God as I understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for me and the power to carry that out
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, I tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all my affairs
This past week I have concentrated on Step 1 and it's been a good week. I've stayed on plan and exercised daily. Praise the Lord, and bring on the new week!
Psalm 119:59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.
*I have replaced the original "our" and "we" with first person "I" in the 12 steps.
2 comments:
What great rules to follow. How could you go wrong when you remind yourself of these each day. I'll pray for you, you pray for me...and we'll both pray for others.
Just another thought, when we are young we never relate our weight to long term health issues...but they will catch up with you sooner or later, in one form or another if we don't stay on top of the battle. Keep up the good fight!
Hi...my name is Patricia and I need to join you!
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