Jesus Christ and the 12 Steps.
seventh step.
“Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.”
This step encourages us to reflect on ourselves and see if we have truly adopted the mental attitude we decided on in the first step: humility. That path set us on the way, with an attitude of humility, where we see God as the source of grace that will lead us to the place we want to be. He is the solution, the only one who can transform the human heart and shape it as He knows it should be. The word humility refers to character, sometimes as an attitude of people (spirit of the soul). Mt. 5:3 Those of a humble character.
Humility is an essential aspect of the divine nature. In contrast, pride leads to rebellion and disobedience, as seen in the example of Satan. The foundation of a healthy and peaceful life rests upon submitting to the Lordship of Christ, allowing His guidance and authority to reign in our lives. Am I truly surrendered to the Lordship of Christ in my own life?
Redemption means leaving behind the power of darkness and being transferred into the kingdom where Jesus Christ is King—becoming “servants of righteousness.”
Humility brings us the grace of God, for He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to God’s favor and protection. As Hebrews 13:17 notes, humility allows us to receive guidance and direction from God, as highlighted in John 3:19.
This step prompts us to examine whether we truly possess the humility that we embraced in the first step—a humility that recognizes God as the ultimate source of grace, the One who alone can transform our hearts and guide us to where we need to be. It is only through Him, the true solution, that genuine change is possible. The essence of humility most be reflected in our character and attitude, as Jesus described in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
God, as Creator, holds the authority to transform our hearts. Through daily surrender and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are sanctified. Some may wonder, “Why must I accept Christ? Why must He live in my heart?” A spirit not yet alive in Christ cannot grow or understand spiritual things. When we receive Christ, God’s Spirit brings our spirit to life—we become like newborns, growing and learning through our relationship with Him, becoming who we were meant to be.
Ephesians 3:14–17 teaches that when Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, His Spirit strengthens our innermost being. Without Christ’s presence, we lack this spiritual strength, for the Spirit cannot work where there is not life. Genuine acceptance of Christ is essential—this opens a line of communication with God, giving us access to His help and granting Him the authority to work in our lives as our Father. In turn, as His children, we are also given authority in Him.
God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion. Change happens as we yield our will to God; He never forces us but invites us to choose His path. He walks with us only when we invite Him, respecting our free will. Each day, we can choose to say:
“Father, I want to walk with You. Remove from me anything that is not Your will—those traits that do not please You.”
As Jesus taught, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."