Without God, I can’t; Without me, God won’t (SA 96)

In Step One, I admitted that I was powerless over lust and that my life was unmanageable.This is absolutely true, but my sponsor reminds me that I have to work my SA program.

So, I do these things:

When I see an interesting person (which is to say, when I objectify a person for lust’s sake), I have to pray and immediately work my program.

When I call my check-in partner every week to report my behavior and challenges, I work…

When I call my study partner every week to study and discuss 12 Step literature, I work…

When I go to several SA meetings every week even though I feel busy, I work…

When I do service for my home group or an SA Committee, I work…

When I am hit with a lust temptation, even a small one, and pray to my Higher Power and work the Steps on it, I work…

When I do Steps One, Two, and Three on a temptation, or do Steps Six and Seven on a character defect, or do Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve daily, I work…

I work, work, work and work.

The amazing thing about all this work is that I actually do less hard work when a temptation comes. My regular maintenance work makes surrendering lust temptations become like a habit. I avoid those people, places, and media where the temptations are apt to occur. I live my life in the light due to the Fellowship. I have serenity because I have had the courage to change the things I can.

I must thank my Higher Power for this serenity because it is also true that I am powerless over my tendency to be lazy, make excuses and indulge my ego. At the end of the day, I have to give all the credit to my Higher Power. It is all prayer and surrender, and it is a way of life that I must work every day.

Thank You, Higher Power.