This extract from the book ‘Drop The Rock’ provides a practical application of the 7th Step Prayer from page 76 of the Big Book:
“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.”
The 7th Step in the Twelve & Twelve makes the very bold assertion about how essential humility is to practicing each of the steps. It says:
“The attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.’s Twelve Steps.”
– Bruce M.
A New Perspective By Relying On God
Looking beyond our addiction of choice to other areas of our lives allows us to see the addictive patterns in a lot of what we do and feel. Being willing to gain a new perspective is a large part of gaining humility and realizing that there may be much more to our difficulties than drinking and drugging and all the rest of it. We have a disease that affects our life. We need to be willing to see that and to go forward with changing it. With our Higher Power’s help and with awareness, we can move closer to our true potential as useful spiritual beings.
A few years ago I made a very fortunate discovery while going through a very difficult period in my recovery. As a result of this discovery, the Seventh Step became my way of dealing with the everyday business of living. The emotional impact of this discovery was very much like having a spiritual awakening. The feelings of exhilaration persisted for several weeks.
For a while, I’d been working myself into a near collapse over my inability to handle my financial affairs. I make a good income, and I know there is no good reason for running out of money, yet time and time again I would overspend and borrow to make up for the deficit and run my charge cards to the limit. Of course, this particular time was not the first bit of despair I had felt about my money-handling habits. My careful budget and intentions to stick with it “this time” proved fruitless.
I was very unhappy and discouraged. I felt inadequate and doubted my ability to manage my life and move ahead. I was becoming more and more desperate. Then, out of nowhere, came the thought that I was dealing with a serious character defect. I don’t know why I hadn’t seen it that way before, but I hadn’t. I felt sure I could handle it on my own. Seeing it in the light of a character defect put a whole new spin on it. I knew I had better turn to God for help.
I was by myself at home, so I did what Dr. Bob, AA’s cofounder, always counseled newcomers to do. I fell on my knees and said out loud, “God, I need help. I can’t handle this by myself.” Almost immediately I felt a sense of relief and hope. My mind began to clear, and I started having some good ideas about how to get myself out of the financial mess I’d created. Soon, I was able to put some of those ideas into action. Weeks later I’d developed methods for keeping myself from falling into that financial sinkhole again.
A couple of days after the initial discovery, I remembered two other surrender experiences that happened to me during my early recovery. The first resulted in my whole-hearted acceptance of the Program and having the compulsion to drink lifted from me. The second happened later and resulted in the resolution of a long-standing inner conflict that would have stood in the way of any possible long-term sobriety and serenity.
I saw that the Seventh Step could be applied whenever I confronted a similar situation that seemed hopeless and helpless. Usually it involves my blindness to my own defects. Whenever I find myself uptight or bordering on panic, I fall on my knees (figuratively or literally, if I can) and ask for God’s help. My life is now marked by a series of surrenders, and it has never been better.
As the years have passed, I’ve gained a new and deeper insight into the workings of the Seventh Step. It is this: If I were able to retain the feeling and attitude that I gain immediately after surrendering, life would be a continuous serene experience. I don’t always hold on to that attitude as I move away from being willing to surrender.
Let’s call it a “surrender attitude.” It is an avenue to peace and harmony. I’ve learned that it is not so important what happens to me as it is how I view it. If I can see through the eyes of the Seventh Step, it all can change for the better.