Step 3: . We made a decision to turn our life and will over to the care of God.
March 7
Scripture reading for today: Psalm 1, Proverbs 3
If we “make a decision” then we need to proceed with the turning over of our life. I don’t want you to be uninformed about this kind of life-transforming choice. The Twelve Steps A Spiritual Journey A Working Guide For Healing (RPI Publishing, Inc. 1994) has a list (see p. 258) of common behaviors associated with persons in need of recovery. Here goes – (check the ones that apply to you)
- We have feelings of low self-esteem that cause us to judge ourselves and others without mercy. We cover up or compensate by trying to be perfect, take responsibility for others, attempt to control the outcome of unpredictable events, get angry when things don’t go our way, or gossip instead of confronting an issue.
- We tend to isolate ourselves and to feel uneasy around other people, especially authority figures.
- We are approval seekers and will do anything to make people like us. We are extremely loyal even in the face of evidence that suggests loyalty is undeserved.
- We are intimidated by angry people and personal criticism. This causes us to feel anxious and overly sensitive.
- We habitually choose to have relationships with emotionally unavailable people with addictive personalities. We are usually less attracted to healthy, caring people.
- We live life as victims and are attracted to other victims in our love and friendship relationships. We confuse love with pity and tend to “love” people we can pity and rescue.
- We are either overly responsible or very irresponsible. We try to solve others’ problems or expect others to be responsible for us. This enables us to avoid looking closely at our own behavior.
- We feel guilty when we stand up for ourselves or act assertively. We give in to others instead of taking care of ourselves.
- We deny, minimize, or repress our feelings from our traumatic childhoods. We have difficulty expressing our feelings and are unaware of the impact this has on our lives.
- We are dependent personalities who are terrified of rejection or abandonment. We tend to stay in jobs or relationships that are harmful to us. Our fears can either stop us from ending hurtful relationships or prevent us from entering healthy, rewarding ones.
- Denial, isolation, control, and misplaced guilt are symptoms of family dysfunction. Because of these behaviors, we feel hopeless and helpless.
- We have difficulty with intimate relationships. We feel insecure and lack trust in others. We don’t have clearly defined boundaries and become enmeshed with our partner’s needs and emotions.
- We have difficulty following projects through from beginning to end.
- We have a strong need to be in control. We overreact to change over which we have no control.
- We tend to be impulsive. We take action before considering alternative behaviors or possible consequences.
Thought for today: If these characteristics remind you of someone then I have good news for you. Turning your life over will transform some of these nagging painful patterns that have characterized your life up to this point. But here ’ s the tough part – it may get worse before it gets better. Turning over our lives is challenging work. It means that we have to consider and reconsider our ways. We ’ ll have to ask ourselves: could I be wrong? Is my perception skewed? Is there a new and different way to respond? Think about it.
Thought for tomorrow: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT
March 7
Teresa McBean
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