CR 01-03 Principle One - Powerless Lesson P-O-W-E-R

The transcription discusses Principle 1, which is about admitting powerlessness and letting go of serenity robbers. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the need for a higher power, Jesus Christ, to restore and change our lives. The letter P in powerless stands for pride, O stands for "only if" thinking, W stands for worrying, E stands for escape, and R stands for resentment. It also mentions the importance of handling anger and resentment properly and the freedom that comes from offering forgiveness. Principle 1. Powerless. The following demonstrates what happens when we admit we're powerless. We begin to let go of the following serenity robbers. Beginning with the P for pride. Proverbs 29 23. Page 780. Pride brings a person low but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Proverbs 29 23. The power to change comes only through God's grace. Principle 1 states realize I'm not God. I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life has become unmanageable. If we admit that we're powerless we recognize our need for a power greater than ourselves to restore us. That power is our higher power the one and only true higher power Jesus Christ. In Principle 1 we discovered that we're powerless to control our own lives and that our lives have become unmanageable. As we work this principle we find that we can be freed of nine serenity robbers. The first letter in powerless is P which stands for pride. We start to see that we no longer have to be trapped by our pride. Ignorance plus power plus pride equals a deadly mixture. Our false pride undermines our faith and cuts us off from God and others. When we welcome God's presence we leave no room for pride because he makes us aware of our true selves. The next letter in powerless is O. Go to Luke 12 2 through 3 page 1 2 6 9. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roof. Luke 12 2 through 3. The power to change comes only through God's grace. Principle 1 states realize I'm not God I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life has become unmanageable. If we admit that we're powerless we recognize our need for a power greater than ourselves to restore us. That power is our higher power the one and only the higher power Jesus Christ. In principle 1 we discover that we're powerless to control our own lives and that our lives have become unmanageable. The next letter in powerless is O which stands for those pesky only if. Have you ever had a case of the only if or the if only's? If only they hadn't walked out. If only I had stopped drinking. If only this. If only that. How reluctantly the mind consents to reality. But when we admit that we're powerless we start walking in the truth rather than living in the fantasy land of rationalization. The next letter in powerless is W. Go to Matthew 6 34 page 1139. Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6 34. The power to change comes only through God's grace. Principle 1 states realize I'm not God. I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life has become unmanageable. If we admit that we're powerless we recognize our need for a power greater than ourselves to restore us. That power is our higher power the one and only higher power Jesus Christ. In principle 1 we discover that we're powerless to control our own lives and that our lives have become unmanageable. The W in powerless stands for worrying. All worrying is a form of failing to trust God. Instead of fretting about things we can't possibly control we need to focus on what God can do. It's a good idea to keep a copy of the serenity prayer in our pocket and in our heart as a continual reminder. 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. By working this program and completing the principles we can find that trust in that relationship with the one and only higher power Jesus Christ. As we grow closer to him we'll find that our anxiety begins to fade away. The next letter in powerless is E. Go to Ephesians 5 13-14 page 1479. Everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said, wake up sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5 13-14. The power to change comes only through God's grace. Principle 1 states, realize I'm not God. I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life has become unmanageable. If we admit that we're powerless, we recognize our need for a power greater than ourselves to restore us. That power is our higher power, the one and only true higher power Jesus Christ. In Principle 1 we discover that we're powerless to control our own lives and that our lives have become unmanageable. The E in powerless stands for escape. Before we admitted we were powerless, we tried to hide from our hurts, hang-ups and habits by getting involved in unhealthy relationships, by abusing drugs such as alcohol or possibly by eating unhealthily or refusing to eat. Trying to escape from pain drains away our precious energy. When we take this first step however, God opens up to us true escape routes, legitimate ways out of our predicaments through access to his power and grace. The next letter in powerless is R. Go to Ephesians 4 26-27 page 1476. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4 26-27. The power to change comes only through God's grace. Principle 1 states, realize I'm not God. I admit that I'm powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life has become unmanageable. If we admit that we're powerless, we recognize our need for a power greater than ourselves to restore us. That power is our higher power, the one and only true higher power, Jesus Christ. In principle 1 we discover that we're powerless to control our own lives and that our lives have become unmanageable. The R in powerless stands for resentment. If our resentment is suppressed and allowed to fester, it can spread like emotional gangrene. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 26-27 how to properly handle our anger and resentment. As we continue to work the principles, we'll come to understand that in letting go of our resentment by offering our forgiveness to those who have hurt us, we're not just freeing the person who has harmed us, we're freeing ourselves. The next letter in powerless is L. Go to Hebrews 13 1 through 2, page 1542.