Step 7: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
Read the Scripture James 4: 1-10
He gives us more grace. That is why scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
I describe humility and “Humbling” situations versus Humiliation situations
Definition: Being humble is NOT thinking less of yourself it’s thinking of yourself less. It’s about realizing it’s not all about you.
“Asked”: Have you ever wondered why we have to ask? Is God some crazy lunatic who needs us to ask so He can feel better about himself? The answer of course is no. God wants us to ask because it demonstrates are willingness, sincerity and honesty. It is all right there on the back of an anniversary chip. A constant remaindered HOW. – Honesty, Open Mindedness and Willingness. Three ingredients to a successful recovery program
Example of how asking is good for us (Wesleyan view of grace: Prevenient, justified and sanctifying grace)
“Him”: I love that this is capitalized in the Big Book. It tells me that Bill was a Christian and that this was a Christian program. It is customary in Christian circles to pay respect to the Christian God by capitalizing his name. It’s awesome. AA was founded on a Christian program; in fact theirs a great history lesson in the first few pages of this recovery bible (pg. 14 in the beginning).
“To remove”: these words offer both faith and power as an attribute to God. The also recognize the all the preceding steps. First, that I am powerless. Second, that there is one who has the power, Third, I am willing to let him run the show. Fourth, I know what my issues are. Five, I am admitting them. Sixth, I’ve really want them removed. Now in step seven, I will act to have my shortcomings, defects of character or in recognition of Christianity, my sins taken away. I surrender because I want to be on the winning team. I’ll play by your wishes now.
Words are powerful. You have been made in the image of God. Each one of you! Each one of you is a miracle because you’ve decided to turn to the only source, which can give you some relief for that which is killing you. The key, to unleashing the chains that have kept you bound in your alcoholism and/or other addictions can be unlocked. You no longer need to be bound. You only need to say the words.
Now, this can be tough for some. As a good friend said, if you take away all my shortcomings, defects of character or sins, I am not sure there will be anything left. Will God just strike me dead? This was his fear: would God need to humble him some more? This can be even scarier. Of course, the truth is God loves you and will forgive all the crap on your soul if you’ll let him. He will take it but in his time. My friend often talks of another thorn in his side other than alcoholism and wonders why God won’t remove it too? I have to remind him, God sometimes leaves us with a struggle to keep us humble so we don’t go back to thinking we have all the answers. He does lessen the pain of those thorns but only after they have served their purpose.
So I am asking you tonight to join me in saying some words that can change the world, specifically, our individual worlds by repeating the seventh step prayer I have listed on the screen.
The Seventh Step Prayer from page 76 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
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 way in which we approach God matters because it demonstrates our our willingness to change, honest awareness of who we are as well as shows our open-mind about the fact that God is the better way.
If you would like to know more about the author: https://communitycenter.life/rev-robert-butler-info
