Step 3 - Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him
Sponsor:
So dear one - you have admitted you are powerless, that you cannot restore yourself to sanity, but there is One that can help you through - what next do you think?
Newbie:
I guess - to look to my concept of God to do that - to give me sanity around food and so I’ll lose all this weight?
Sponsor:
Hmmmm - let’s look at the BB - page 60 - it says "
being convinced, we were at step 3". What are the things we need to be convinced of?Newbie:
OK - we need to be convinced that we are COE’s - yep - that human power can’t help us - yep, tried lots of stuff and non of it helped - And that HP will help me if I seek him - OK I can do this:)
Sponsor:
Notice what we are saying we will turn over - our *WILL* and our *LIFE*. And in the step it says we give them to the *CARE* of HP.
This is not something to be done lightly - we are not saying I give my plan of eating over to God, but I’ll look after all the rest. We’re not saying God make me thin and then I’ll do what you want. We’re saying "God take all of me - your will not mine be done".
Newbie:
Yes I see - wow! that is kinda scary! I mean - I’m not sure about giving up all my control to a Power that is outside of me.
Sponsor:
Yes it is scary - but then - how has "self control" worked in the past? Let’s look at the BB again, a bit further down page 60 it says "
The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success"Newbie:
You know, I hadn’t realise it was talking about my life - I kinda thought this was all about the food, but I’m coming to think maybe it’s not.
Sponsor:
For lots of us - well, for me anyway! - it is sometimes about the food - if I have a cream filled doughnut an inch from my mouth, there ain’t no way I’m going to listen to HP!!! But when I get beyond the food - once I am abstinent from my compulsive eating behaviours and free of my binge foods - then it’s about life!
Newbie:
Yes, I like what it says here about the actor trying to make the play go better by being "nice" - I think I do that - I said it was because I was a caring person, but often, it was because I wanted to control people.
Sponsor:
Great realisation my friend!! Let’s read this page together:
Big Book page 62
First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn't work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom.
How do you feel Dear One? are you ready to take this step to recovery?
Newbie:
This is frightening, but I think I really am
Sponsor:
I am so pleased - Shall we all say this prayer together?
Big Book page 63
"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!"