STEP THREE

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

This was only a beginning, though if honestly and humbly made, an effect, sometimes a very great one was felt at once. (pg.63)

Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless followed by effort to face, get of rid the things in us blocking the entry of God in our lives. Our liquor was just a symptom.

“All that Happens and will happen, is by His Will, whatever we could not do by our selves, we would with His Will.”

Willingness, honesty, open mind, and humility are indispensable principles to accept God’s Will. The important key to live under the Will of God is Willingness. It unlocks the door, which then opens itself. Looking through this door, one shall see a pathway with an inscription. This is the way to a Faith That Works. This needs acceptance, which in itself is a big chapter. It does not mean liking a situation; it is just an acknowledgement of reality and hope that it will pass. This pathway needs affirmative action, that we can cut away the self-will blocking the entry of God in our lives. Faith is necessary but alone it can avail nothing. We can have faith and can still keep God out of our lives. We have to turn our will and lives to the care of God. Thy Will be done.

He alone is carried across, within whose mind the Lord abides, that alone happens, which is pleasing to His Will. And accepting whatever God does, I accept as good. I have eradicated all egotistical pride from my mind.

To every worldly and practical minded, it looks hard and even impossible. It just needs a little beginning with the key of willingness. This all sounds mysterious and remote. But this very thing bolsters our lower instincts with egotism and frustrating our spiritual progress. The moment our mental and emotional independence is in question, how differently we behave. We think that no body can meddle with our personal independence. We are certain that our intelligence backed by will power can rightly control over the inner lives and guarantee its success in the world we live in. But think, how well does it work? Everywhere people seem to suffer from anger, resentments, and ego, and fear, unnecessary arguments that, I am right and you are wrong. It is by circumstances rather than by virtue that we are here. When we are disturbed about something or someone, it is because we do not understand on a higher level but view it through our personality, which is attached to our need to control things and see ourselves in a positive light. We cannot find serenity when we are at war with someone or with our selves, as our emotional state does not allow us to think straight and pertinent. Nor do we need to beat up others with blame words. We need to concentrate on our part of the situation; what needs to be changed in our way of thinking and having done so, happiness will follow.
Accepting the Will of God, one attains peace, and the darkness of doubt is dispelled.

Nothing short of right action can bring the desired result. Our whole trouble has been misuse of the self-willpower. We have tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it in to agreement with God’s intentions for us. God’s Will, will help us conquering the ignorance, pride and intellect. Everything happens according to the Will of the Lord; no one has any say in this at all.

By ourselves, we cannot do anything at all. As it pleases the Lord, He preserves us. O my Dear Lord, every thing is in Your power. I have no power to do any thing at all. As it pleases you, forgive us. You Yourself bless us with soul, body and everything. You Yourself cause us to act. As You issue Your commands, so do we act. With out virtuous deeds one cannot gain any thing useful in spite of running around. Your higher power cause you to understand, while others, the self-willed, do their deeds and cry out in pain.

This is not a fatalistic or passive approach to life. We may very well be given seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life in order to learn what we can, by overcoming them. But if we face these obstacles with a basic acceptance, we are much more likely to possess the calmness of mind necessary to see with some clarity the most skillful means of overcoming them. What keeps us constantly struggling with life is the attitude of non-acceptance, of not trusting the basic process of life unfolding. We suffer under the false assumption that the goal of life is to always avoid what we find unpleasant and to try to dwell in constant comfort. We don't really understand that life is nothing personal. It is much bigger than that. We need to learn to trust in and surrender to this impersonal process we tend to think of as "my life.”

Question arises, what is the need to do anything when things work only according to the “Will of God'. If God wants us to do well, we will do well and good; if God wants us to do badly and evil, we will do bad and evil. So once we surrender to Lord’s will, its God’s responsibility."

Answer is, Big No.

We have the responsibility to make choices-- good or bad.

Whereas, certain things are beyond our control-- those are laws of nature, which cannot be broken by any one and are laid down according to Lord’s Will or Order. These laws are blind but their justice is even handed. So that's what is all about accepting and "surrendering to Will of God and “let go" with understanding it.

Making a good choice:

In making a good choice one has to get rid of the ego (Self) and be humble to accept Its Will. When letting go the ego erases selfishness and conceit, peace comes, and the mind and body are healed.

Making a bad Choice:

Self willed individuals usually make a bad choice and knowing fully well come to wrong decisions in life, made by negative thought process and thus block the entry of God in the life of the individual. People tie up bundles of demerits; no one deals in virtue. Rare is that person, who purchases virtue. Usually the individual knows everything, and knowing, he still makes mistakes. What good is a lamp in one's hand, if he falls into the well?

3rd step prayer

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!

We found it very desirable to take this spiritual step with an understanding person, such as our wife, best friend or spiritual adviser. But it is better to meet God alone than with one who might misunderstand. The wording was, of course, quite optional so long as we expressed the idea, voicing it without reservation.