Reducing Self-centeredness
The Big Book of AA describes the significance of our problem with selfishness in this way: "There often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His [God's] aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help." (Big Book pages 62-63)
The Bible confirms what the Big Book says about needing God to help us deal with the destructive problem of selfishness and other shortcomings we have.
God is God and we are not. Trying to be God and run our own affairs didn’t work in addiction and it won’t work in recovery. God is the one needs to be in charge. The more we practice letting God's Word, and His plans and purposes shape our daily activities, the less self-obsessed we will be and the more fulfilling our work and relationships will become.
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. (2 Peter 1:5-7 NLT)
Prayer: Gracious God, Thank You for helping me deal with my selfishness. I surrender myself to Your will and Your ways. Be the director of my life. Work Your will in me and through me so that I might share in Your divine nature. Amen
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