Just how ready are you?

"When the pain is no more value, the healing is instantaneous."

What pain in your life has value?

Driving home tonight after an extremely stressful day and talking to a friend I realized that the reason I still struggle with certain issues, like impatience, is that I have been unwilling to give-up impatience. I get some form of power and control from being impatient. I am just not sick enough. When I am tired and frustrated it feels good to vent at the driver in front of me—I get some form of release.

Step Six: Were entirely ready to have God remove our shortcomings.

Do you struggle with something that is not God’s best for you? Something that takes away from the inner-peace, freedom, and joy of God in your life? What benefit do you get from your shortcoming? Like me, you must get something from it or you would do it, right?

The key words in this step for me are entirely and ready. If I am struggling with resentment, fear, self-pity, bitterness, anger, impatience, pride, ego, or whatever it may be, I have to come to a place where I am entirely ready to have God do for me what I cannot do for myself. It is God who removes my shortcomings, not me. I just have to be willing. When God removes it, it is gone and I am free. I just have to come to a place where I am entirely ready.

"God, I am ready. Thank you for understanding me better than I understand myself. In your mercy and love, please do for me what I have been unable to do for myself."