Step 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
If we broke it down, we’d see there are three parts to Step Twelve:
- Acknowledge our spiritual awakening.
We are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The most underdeveloped aspect of our essence is spiritual. Sadly, when we say, Spiritual, most people hear “religious.”
Thanks to my Higher Power—my Father God—the spiritual awakening I’ve received is the gift of being at peace with Me!
2. Carry the message.
To carry the message of the character-building 12 Steps, I actually had to learn to listen! As an enabler, I was so busy trying to fix my spouse and others I never heard the struggle they had in their spirit.
3. Practice these principles in all our affairs.
Now when someone wrestles with a life issue, I don’t rush in to “fix” them. I allow the spiritual part of my being to listen with my heart and head. Then and only then, am I ready to share my recovery experience, strength, and hope and use the principles I’ve learned from the 12 Steps.
It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that (Titus 3:3-5 MSG).
