Step 6 – Live right in the moment

“…when we become entirely ready, we are willing allow God to help us to be and to do what we have been unable to do on our own. When we willingly do our part by living rightly in the moment, God removes our defects by supplying His power and His Spirit to make these changes in us. Over time, our defects are replaced with character strengths.”

The Life Recovery Workbook, by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop, p. 53.

Recently, I had the privilege of being part of a recovery meeting where people shared their thoughts and feelings on grace. It wasn’t necessarily about the grace of God, but grace in general. There wasn’t one specific story that stood out, rather it was the theme in which people shared that struck me. They all shared how it’s through their relationship with God that they have the sober and blessed life they currently have.

If you’re not familiar with how God works in a person’s heart to change their behavior it will seem strange. Odd even. From an outside perspective, it might seem like those of us who follow God’s Will are somewhat delusional. Why can’t it be me that makes the choice? Why does it have to be God?

One young lady shared how she used to blame God for all the things that happened to her, but realized later it wasn’t Him because He gives everyone free will. So, the person that brought her harm chose what God would not have had them choose. Instead, that person chose their sinful desire over God’s Will of love, grace, and compassion.

There is a misperception that if we give our will over to God we lose any sense of self. It’s not true. That’s fear of the unknown talking. We’re often more comfortable with our defects than trying to evolve further in our sobriety.

“…we who are addicted have a sincere desire to be healed, to rise up and be productive, and to live a meaningful, purposeful life. We may get ourselves right to the edge of significant progress in recovery, but our character defects have crippled us so that we are paralyzed by fear and cannot get to the next level. We have to let go of familiar patterns that are easy for us even if they are hurtful or debilitating.”

Ibid, p. 52.

In the docuseries The Last Dance (2020), which is about Michael Jordan’s final year with the Bulls, one interviewee shared that Michael’s gift wasn’t his physical talent, but his ability to always be in the moment. To live in the moment is an expression of self-mastery—to be the best at what you do AND live in the moment of it. If you’re in Step 6, your very best is yet to come but you must first learn to live in the moment of God’s Will for your life.

I wish I could tell you what that will look like for you, but I can’t. However, I can tell you what it will feel like. There will be a tug on your heart or mind nagging you to take an action that is contrary to what you might typically do (whatever you’re used to doing as an addict). That feeling is God’s Will guiding you to make a different choice. And it will be a choice you’re unfamiliar with, and may even frighten you. We’re often frightened by the unknown. But if you willing step into the moment, live through it, you will find it’s not as bad as you thought it would be. Most likely, you’ll be relieved maybe even surprised by the result of your new choice.

That sense of surprise and relief is what many of us in long-term recovery have experienced over and over again. We start to learn that our addictive behaviors only result in the same consequences so we have to make different choices in order to get different results. Once it becomes a habit we don’t stop doing it because we know it’s the right thing to do, plus, who wants to be stuck in old addictive behaviors? They never brought any joy before so why would they now?

When you choose to let God into your life, you’re choosing a life that must be lived moment to moment. You let go of the past, you don’t fear or anticipate the future; you live right now. Choosing Him in every thought, word, and deed.

#liveinthemoment #yourgreatestself