Thoughts by Peter Marinelli
Step 6
Were entirely ready to God remove all these defects of character
If I can answer the questions at the end of step five to my own satisfaction I then look at step 6
It is to our own satisfaction as we are now beginning to have a new God consciousness and we can begin to rely upon it for guidance
Am I now ready to Have God remove from me all the defects I considered objectionable?
I have created a list of defects which were revealed to me in step 5
Do I believe God take them away?
Am I still looking to hold onto any defects?
If I’m holding on to defects it’s usually out of fear – fear of the unknown. Is this my experience?
If I am still holding onto any defects, I ask God again for the willingness to have them removed.
I am to write these defects down on a sheet of paper. Next to each defect, list the opposite.
I then offer these defects to God to be removed. It’s an offering as to what has been revealed to me and that I am entirely ready to have them removed.
We offer and not petition God.
We then thank Him for the God given assets. (The opposite of the defect)
Example:
Hate-love Thank you God for removing hate, thank you God for love
Intolerant –tolerance
Dishonest- honest
-Peter Marinelli
Step 7
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
The 7th step prayer, which is a continuation of the 3rd step prayer, has much to do with serving God and others.
We again turn to God to be rid of the things which are blocking us from experiencing Him.
In the third step prayer we ask God to relieve us form the bondage of self and here we are asking God to take every single defect of character which stands in the way of our usefulness to God and others (defects shortcomings these words are interchangeable and they both are a part of the bondage of self) We let God decide what is good and what is bad, what we need and what we can do without. God will mold us as He sees fit, allowing us to go out do his bidding (work).
Seventh step prayer:
“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 that 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 seventh step prayer ends with Amen. While the third step prayer did not. We have completed the searching phase of this work, where God took us into our past and revealed the obstacles in our path. We close this phase of our development, and begin the growing in understanding and effectiveness phase of our journey. We are out of the searching and into the growing.
Blessings,
Chop wood, carry water
Peter Marinelli
