1st Step
A Firm Foundation
At first, doing a searching and fearless personal
inventory looked like another excuse to be hard
on myself. It was important for me to concentrate
on the first three Steps in order to build a firm
spiritual foundation for my recovery.
In these initial Steps we begin by admitting that we are powerless over certain things—alcohol or relationships or whatever—and learn that God has no such limitations. We decide to place our life and our will in His hands. We begin to let go of the burdens that have been weighing us down. Only after we have worked these Steps are we ready to move on. We can go forward with God's guidance.
The first three Steps are the cornerstone of recovery. No matter how long we are in recovery, no matter how much progress we make, we ultimately stand on that foundation.
In these initial Steps we begin by admitting that we are powerless over certain things—alcohol or relationships or whatever—and learn that God has no such limitations. We decide to place our life and our will in His hands. We begin to let go of the burdens that have been weighing us down. Only after we have worked these Steps are we ready to move on. We can go forward with God's guidance.
The first three Steps are the cornerstone of recovery. No matter how long we are in recovery, no matter how much progress we make, we ultimately stand on that foundation.
—Anonymous
One
04/Jun/08 Filed in: 1st Step
When we take the First Step, we admit that we
have lost control, that we are powerless over
something in our lives. We can choose to argue
about our condition, but that isn't very useful.
It's as insane as donning a suit of medieval
armor for protection from an atom bomb. Only God
can restore us to sanity.
I'm responsible for taking the necessary actions to put myself on the path to recovery. Unless I'm in some eminent danger, I can take my time to choose my best response to a situation. And in every case I can turn to God for protection. His will, not my wits, are my best hope and defense.
I'm responsible for taking the necessary actions to put myself on the path to recovery. Unless I'm in some eminent danger, I can take my time to choose my best response to a situation. And in every case I can turn to God for protection. His will, not my wits, are my best hope and defense.
—Anonymous
Understanding
Until I understood the real meaning of the Twelve
Steps, I was certain that they didn't apply to
me.
I didn't want to believe that I was powerless with respect to anything or that my life had become unmanageable—I could handle it. Or so I thought. Now I know that I must accept the First Step before I make any progress.
Although I knew Jesus, I was shocked by the idea that I need Him to restore me to sanity. Yet an honest look at myself and my behavior showed that my thoughts were confused by despair and resentment. I wasn't thinking clearly or taking wise decisions.
Each of the Steps challenges me to be absolutely honest with myself. They help to prepare me to accept God's working in my life to restore me to a wholesome sanity.
I didn't want to believe that I was powerless with respect to anything or that my life had become unmanageable—I could handle it. Or so I thought. Now I know that I must accept the First Step before I make any progress.
Although I knew Jesus, I was shocked by the idea that I need Him to restore me to sanity. Yet an honest look at myself and my behavior showed that my thoughts were confused by despair and resentment. I wasn't thinking clearly or taking wise decisions.
Each of the Steps challenges me to be absolutely honest with myself. They help to prepare me to accept God's working in my life to restore me to a wholesome sanity.
—Anonymous
Came, Came To
Here's a good summary of the first three Step: "I
came. I came to. I came to believe."
I came. When I admitted my powerlessness, I came into the beginning of recovery.
I came to. When I realized that there was a Higher Power who could restore my sanity, I began to awake from my clouded thinking.
I came to believe. When I decided to turn control over to God's and place myself in His care, I began to believe that Jesus really did love me.
I came. When I admitted my powerlessness, I came into the beginning of recovery.
I came to. When I realized that there was a Higher Power who could restore my sanity, I began to awake from my clouded thinking.
I came to believe. When I decided to turn control over to God's and place myself in His care, I began to believe that Jesus really did love me.
—Anonymous