12 Steps in 12 Days: A Look at Step 7 of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
General Service Conference approved literature lists Step 7 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as follows:
“7. We humbly asked him (God/Higher power) to remove our shortcomings.”
During step 7, The Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book suggests we say something to this respect: “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 which 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.”
Step 7 is very similar to the 3rd step of Alcoholics Anonymous. However, it is important to note that since we have completed our personal invebtory, we have a better understanding of the roots of our addictive behaviors during step 7. This allows us to make a perminent change in our attitude and perform the greatest act of humility in asking our higher power to remove our shortcomings.
