A Dozen Steps

Fourth Step Promises

by Mark on April 22nd, 2008

We’ve seen the First Step Promises, the Second Step Promises, , the Third Step Promises, now here are the Fourth Step Promises from the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo!

1. Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. (64:0)

2. Our liquor was but a symptom. (64:0)

3. Resentment is the “number one” offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. (64:3)

4. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. (64:3)

5. Nothing counted but thoroughness and honesty. (65:3)

6. But the more we fought and tried to have our own way, the worse matters got. As in war, the victor only seemed to win. Our moments of triumph were short-lived. (66:0)

7. It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these (resentments), do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. (66:1)

8. But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it (resentment) is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die. (66:1)

9. If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. (66:2)

10. We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. (66:3)

11. We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. (66:3)

12. This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick.

13. Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. (66:4)

14. We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. (67:4)

15. “Fear” This short word somehow touches about every aspect of our lives. It was an evil and corroding thread; the fabric of our existence was shot through with it. It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune. (67:3)

16. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity. (68:2)

17. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear. (68:3)

18. If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson. (70:1)

19. If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink. (70:1)

20. If we have been thorough about our personal inventory, we have written down a lot. (70:3)

21. We have listed and analyzed our resentments. (70:3)

22. We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. (70:3)

23. We have commenced to see their terrible destructiveness. (70:3)

24. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people. (70:3)

25. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct, and are willing to straighten out the past if we can. (70:3)

Share This

Related Stories

Fifth Step Promises
Eighth Step Promises
What Is The Fourth Step?
To Stay Sober
The Fourth Step

POSTED IN: The 12 Steps, The Fourth Step