Step 3

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

Overview

1. Review the example prayers and reflect on them.
2. Compose your own prayer that reflects your attitude of surrender and what you are asking God to do for you.

Reading

1. Read Step Three in “Step Into Action”
   • Highlight anything that hits you deeply
   • Write a word or two in the margin as to Why?
2.  Read Members of SA Share in “Step Into Action”
   • Highlight anything that hits you deeply
   • Write a word or two in the margin as to Why?
3.  Read Questions to Consider in “Step Into Action”
   • Just read and think about the questions.

Questions

1. What decisions to change have you made that you would not have made when you first came into the program?
2. Are you willing to work with a sponsor on a regular basis? List how you do that.
3. Are you willing to follow your sponsor’s suggestions?
4. What changes do you see in yourself? In your daily life?
5. What thoughts, habits, and parts of your life do you still need to surrender?
6. Are you willing to turn your will and life over to a Power greater than yourself? List those actions you are willing to take on an hourly or daily basis one day at a time. Will you share this list with your sponsor?

Example Prayers

Third Step Prayer

God, I offer myself to You – to build with me and to do with me as You will. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Your will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Your power, Your love, Your way of life. May I do Your will always.

Lust Prayer

Lord, I surrender my lust and ask you to keep me sober from my lust today because I cannot; but by Your strength, I can.

Surrender Prayer

Lord, I give this day to you. Establish the work of my hands, the steps of my feet, the words of my mouth, the direction of my gaze, the thoughts of my mind, and the attitude of my heart.

Writing

1. Read Step Into Action Step Three in “Step Into Action”
2. Open and review my example file 
   • Go to the Step 3 Files folder below
   • Open the file “Rick’s Step 3 Prayers.pdf”
3. Read and reflect on Step 3 prayers in the reading or the samples.
4. Search on the internet for “Step 3 Prayers”
5. Select a prayer that you connect with to help you express your willingness to turn your will and life over to God – each day, each hour if necessary.
6. Write your own prayer if you want to express something in your own words.

Files

The files for this step are shown below in PDF format. To find files in Excel, Mac, or Google format, check the File Versions page.