3. Made a decision to turn our will and out lives over to the care of God as we understand Him. 

Make a decision!

The choice of our will. Ignore the feelings of doubt and confusion, the mental gyrations about how it can work, just decide to act as if this will work and see what we learn. 

Turn will over and over and over again – incomplete, hesitantly, rebelliously, resentfully, with self-pity – whatever condition we are in – we just have to do it.

Then, and only then, can He begin the work of changing our imperfect will to His perfect will – an improbable union of wills.

Need more willingness? Ask for some.

Total surrender: again and again as more is revealed that we need to let go and let God do what only He can do.

We work this step the rest of our lives as more is revealed that we need to surrender. Our lives: all the awful, unmanageable mess! Unconditional surrender – each time – more completely as we are able. The ability to decide to turn us over to His care grows each time we make a decision to do it. 

Less of me, more of Him – His will, His Providence, His Love.

Recovery is an inside job. Even back in 121AD, Marcus Aurelius knew….”Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple wavers in the dust.” As our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we have inside help.

Jesus came to restore what was lost.

“God can take all the broken pieces and put it back together in a way that is good.” Max Johnson. Max got it right, we are a-mazing in recovery!

A partnership grounded in His love, not His authority or control. 

Care:

Can we trust Him? What is his nature that we can come to trust and rely on?

Care is daily – not given today what we will need tomorrow. 

I can’t, He can, I’ll let Him What areas need to be restored to sanity? Give them to God to take care of.

Care: His Guardian Peace, His peace will guard your mind.

The Serenity Prayer gives us steps to regain sanity, it is another help for us to find freedom in His care. 

Only in His Peace do we dare let go and let Him to take care of …

And yes, courage, and the wisdom of just whose job is whose.

Freedom from something does not always mean the disappearance of it. However, we can practice detachment having discerned just what is our business and what isn’t. We can practice the 3rd Step and turn it over to God’s care. We can pray and believe the Serenity Prayer.

Sanity: soundness or health of mind.

Reason. Rational. Clearheaded. Balanced. Stable. Levelheaded.  Sensible.  

Able to anticipate and appraise the effects of our actions.

Having full use of one’s mind and control over our actions.

This is what living in His care gives us. 

Care. God’s nature is Love, agape love. Unconditional love and acceptance.  No requirements from us to receive His love.  That is the source of care.  Have within us the deep need to know that love.  We begin to believe it through experiences of His care.  Those of us that did not get healthy care growing up have a difficult time recognizing care.  As we have more and more experiences of care, that core human need for care is awaken and restored. Then our faith develops – the trusting and counting on Him to respond with the needed care.

God’s love: He is kind, good, His love has no strings attached, He wants us more than we want Him, He is more gracious toward us than we are toward ourselves, He is trustworthy, He delights in giving to us, we can tell Him exactly how we feel, He wants to heal our wounds.

He works from inside out.

“Hope gives us strength. We need strength for the journey of recovery. We need strength to make the changes that need to be made – and strength to grieve the losses which come with change. We need strength to keep on keeping on. Recovery requires a great deal of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. We draw that strength day to day from hope.” Dale and Juanita Ryan. 

How are you nurturing hope? Won’t happen in isolation, we need each other.

God:

God as we understand God…

“I don’t try to imagine God; it suffices to stand in awe of the structure of the world, insofar as it allows our inadequate senses to appreciate it.” Albert Einstein

God = Gift of Desperation. 

God = Good Orderly Direction

God = Group of Drunks

And these prayers address the turning over our will and lives. 

A Third Step prayer….

“Lord, instruct us in the ways of humility so that we may banish our unwarranted pride that keeps finding you on this advent journey. Help us place our enslaving need for control and power in your loving hands where we will find our true freedom. Amen.”

Henri Nouwen.

“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!”

The Big Book (Alchoholics Annonymous), page 63

Turn my will over to the care…

God, I offer myself to thee – to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relive me of the bondage of self that I better do Thou will…

Turn my life over to the care…

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.

From the Good Book: 

“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

“I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.”

John 10:10

“We know and rely on the God has for us. God is love.”

1 John 4:16

“And may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves.”

Ephesians 3:18-19

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Deuteronomy 33:27

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean no on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:3-6

“Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you and retain you with my victorious right hand of righteousness and justice.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Casting the whole of your care all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all0 on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

1 Peter 5: 8

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