Step 6: Becoming Ready — The Heart Shift That Makes Change Possible

Step 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

— From the 12 Steps

If Step 4 reveals the truth about us

and Step 5 expresses it out loud,

Step 6 asks a new question:

“Am I actually willing to change?”

This sounds simple.

It isn’t.

Many of us reach Step 6 with a clear inventory, a brave confession, and yet a surprising realization:

There are parts of me I still want to hold onto.

Old habits.

Old patterns.

Old resentments.

Old attitudes that once helped us survive, even though now they hurt us.

Step 6 is not about perfection.

It’s about readiness.

What Step 6 Is — and What It Isn’t

Step 6 does not say:

• “I am completely free of defects.”

• “I no longer struggle.”

• “I’m spiritually mature now.”

It says:

“I am ready for God to do what I cannot do by myself.”

Step 6 is not the removal of character defects.

That’s Step 7.

Step 6 is the willingness

— the posture of openness —

the surrendered heart that says:

“I want to be different… even if I’m not sure how.”

Why Readiness Matters

Readiness is the doorway between awareness (Steps 4–5) and transformation (Steps 7–9).

Without readiness:

• our old patterns still feel familiar

• our resentments still feel justified

• our pride still feels protective

• our coping mechanisms feel necessary

Step 6 confronts an uncomfortable truth:

Sometimes we are more attached to our defects than we think.

Anger made us feel powerful.

Control made us feel safe.

Lust made us feel in control.

Avoidance made life less painful.

Dishonesty protected the image we wanted to maintain.

But now those defenses keep us from becoming who God is shaping us to be.

Step 6 asks gently,

“Are you willing to let this go?”

The Spiritual Heart of Step 6

This Step is deeply biblical.

Scripture constantly invites us into readiness, not perfection:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.”

— Psalm 51:10

That is Step 6.

Not “I have a clean heart,”

but “I am ready for You to create one.”

And again:

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

— Romans 12:2

Step 6 is the moment we say,

“Yes, Lord. Renew me.”

The miracle belongs to God.

The willingness belongs to us.

God Removes — Not Us

We cannot remove our own defects.

We can’t will ourselves into serenity or white-knuckle our way into holiness.

Self-effort gives us exhaustion.

Surrender gives us transformation.

God does the actual removing —

the reshaping,

the healing,

the sanding down of the rough edges,

the softening of the hardened places.

But He does it with our permission.

Step 6 is that permission.

Becoming Ready Takes… Time

Readiness doesn’t usually show up instantly.

It grows.

Sometimes it feels like:

• “I want to want to change.”

• “I’m trying to be willing.”

• “I don’t know how to let this go, but I’m open.”

That counts.

That is Step 6.

God honors even the smallest seed of willingness.

A Practical Way to Understand Step 6

Ask yourself:

1. What defect of character am I still defending?

2. What fear keeps me holding onto it?

3. What would life look like without it?

4. What would God need to heal in me to make letting go possible?

Step 6 is not about forcing an answer.

It’s about becoming willing to ask the questions.

What Step 6 Prepares Us For

Step 6 sets the stage for Step 7 — where we humbly ask God to remove our defects.

But Step 7 only works when Step 6 becomes real.

You cannot surrender what you haven’t decided to release.

You cannot ask God to change something you’re still clinging to.

Readiness is the hinge.

It turns desire into surrender.

Reflection Questions

1. Which character defect is hardest for me to imagine letting go of — and why?

2. What fear or insecurity keeps me attached to it?

3. What would spiritual freedom in this area look like?

4. What small step can I take to become more ready — not perfect, just more open?

A Step 6 Prayer

God, I bring You the parts of me

that I cannot fix, cannot change,

and sometimes don’t even fully understand.

I am willing — or willing to become willing —

for You to remove what keeps me stuck.

Take my resistance,

soften my heart,

and prepare me for the change only You can make.

I am ready for Your transforming grace.

Amen.