STEP SEVEN

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

The meaning of this step is prayer, and humility. We would like to be assured that the grace of God can do for us what we cannot do our selves.

Prayer

It is a conscious realization of a personal intimate relationship with Holy Omnipotent God. It is a supplication for benefits either for one’s self (Petition) or for others (Intercession). Prayer always springs out of a sense of need and a belief that God is a rewarder for them who seek it diligently. No man can tell another how to pray. Each one has, or works out for himself, his own method. The difference between a demand and simple request is plain to every one. Prayer connects the individual to a higher source of love and energy whenever there is a need of comfort or direction. There is no other better way to open up to your Higher Power or God. God is unknowable, infinite, unapproachable, formless and imperceptible.

Prayer does not require a language to communicate and it can be done in silence. It is a humble request for benefits either for one's self or for others. Command does not succeed with Lord; it is only the imploration, which works. It can be said at any time and at any place. God is not confined to any Religious place and is everywhere. Prayer is not a formal ritual. God is father, mother, sibling, relative, friend, lover etc. with whom you have liberty of being informal. One does not need a middleman for a prayer.

The only thing, which one can offer, is to praise, appreciate with an Attitude of gratitude. It describes a state of mind of complete surrender to God in which a person becomes humility incarnate. Prayer says, I am helpless, I am impure and weak. I need you O' Lord to strengthen me, to purify me and I offer my gratitude.

Humility

It perceives one’s position in the world, not according to one’s own accomplishments but according to the intrinsic value of all individuals. We should pause here to consider what humility is and what the practice of it meant to us. The attainment of humility is the foundation of each AA’s 12 steps. For with out some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. Character building and spiritual values should be first and material satisfaction is not the purpose of living. We never thought of making honesty, tolerance and true love of man and God as the daily basis of living, it was by repeated humiliations that we were forced to learn something about humility. This simply is the virtue of being ourselves and realizing how small we are in a big world full of its own trouble.

1. Drop all pretenses. We must not be Mr. Big Shot - - bragging, boasting. Shed false pride. Tell the simple, plain, unvarnished truth.
2. Act, walk, and talk simply. See the little bit of good that exists in an evil man; forget the little bit of evil that exists in a good man.
3. We must not look down on the very lowest of God's creations or man's mistakes.
4. True humility is the low but deep and firm foundation of all virtues. Plenty of people wish to become devout but no one wishes to be humble.
5. Pride is concerned with who is right; humility is concerned with what is right. Understanding of our ignorance is always conducive to both humility and reverence.
6. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.
7. Think clearly, honestly, fairly, generously.
8. The true judge is the one who can judge himself.

The shortcomings we ask God to remove are the very defects in character that make us drink - - the same defects we drink to hide or get away from. We cannot enter in to debate with people, who consider passionately that to satisfy our natural DESIRES is the main object of life. Character building and spiritual values has to come first than the material satisfactions of the desires of life. It was with repeated humiliations that we were forced to learn something about humility. The difference between demand and a simple request is plain to every one.