No self-worth

Job 3:23 Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?

Why when God wants something done does He give it to someone who usually feels inferior?

The first step to achieving better feelings about ourselves is recognising our unworthiness in the sight of God. He alone can make us somebody and wants to do so. We are valuable because God created us in His image, He sent His Son to die for our sins. He sees us not just for what we are but also for what we are meant to be and can become with His help.

When temptation comes

Avoiding the things that are our weaknesses is imperative to recovery. We cannot flirt with them without falling for them.

The Bible says we should run away from them and concentrate instead on things that build Christ like character in us.

2 Timothy 2:22 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness-- faith, love, peace-- joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

Be patient - more is coming

Continue to praise God for the successes you achieve in recovery and for the failures. Through each life event we learn to patiently wait on Him as He develops us into His purpose.

Romans 5:3 There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us,

Salvation

Has the root meaning of salvaging, recovering, rescue and deliverance.

Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10. His desire is to effectively free us from our lostness and bring us into a new way of living.

He called .... They came ....

Jesus ministered for just three short years. With varying degrees of response from people.

Mark 3:13 reminds us of those who answered His call. They came, hobbling, running with varying different needs, with the hope of a better deal, a new start.

We too have opportunity to come. To bring our whole sad past, repent of it, then relent and let go of it.

God never tires of our constant cries for help. He cares about us and wants us to allow Him to direct us to lives of sobriety and serenity far beyond anything we can imagine for ourselves.

Mark 3:13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.

What's your excuse?

Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know. ” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Don't be greedy

Words we have all had spoken to us at sometime in our lives. Many of us exhaust ourselves trying to get more so we can satisfy our selfish desires. As we grow in recovery we need to seek only to have our needs met. The way to achieve that is through healthy relationship with God and with others.

Proverbs 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.

Good News for us!

God says in Isaiah even though He has observed our wrong attitudes and actions He will heal us, lead us and comfort us, ifwe reach out to Him and accept Him as our 'One True Higher Power'

That's 'Good News' for us

Isaiah 57:18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn,

How is your world today?

1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Unintentional hurts..

As our addictions and compulsions got out of control there are people we would have hurt, unintentional sins we commited. Nevertheless, we need to take responsibility for our actions by adding them to our list.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Fear of failure

In what specific area of recovery are you afraidof failure?

Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

What message are you sowing in the heart of others?

Persevere at doing the right thing.

Galatians 6:7-9 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Sick people can't help sick people

In recovery we come across people who are ready to tell us what is good for us. Or to tell us how to live our lives. Often these are people who are making a mess of their own lives, which causes us to make more mess of ours.

If you want to be a winner, follow the example of winners.

Psalms 1:1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,.

Who are you leading astray?

Anger at our self and our own circumstances often leads us to wrong attitudes and actions. Which can lead us to take others down the wrong road with us.

Proverbs 16:29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path.

Recovery requires obedience to God's laws

We have spent our lives choosing what we want to obey, usually the things that benefit us. Now as we grow in spiritual maturity we must learn to put others first.

Matthew 5:17-19 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Scaling the walls

Let God be God. He promises all the walls that exist in our lives can be scaled through faith in Him and reliance on His power.


2 Samuel 22:30 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

What consumes you?

We all have passions. Things that get us excited, give us satisfaction.

What are yours? How have they impacted your ability to make amends?

John 2:17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me. ”

What consumes you?

We all have passions. Things that get us excited, give us satisfaction.

What are yours? How have they impacted your ability to make amends?

John 2:17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me. ”

Learn to trust others

Most of us can identify one or two people with whom we had special bonds growing up. A friend, a sibling, a team mate. Someone we knew we could always rely on in tough times.

When we prepare to make amends, we also need to prepare our hearts to accept whatever love, support or friendships may develop as a result of this step. God never designed us to be alone. The supportive relationships we experience in recovery are God given to strengthen us in our spiritual growth.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Admit your fears

Becoming wiiling to make amends to those we have harmed can be a fearful proposition for us. Just like the disciples we can have doubts. But like Peter we need to take risks and trust God will be there to hold us up when we feel we are sinking.

Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost! ”

Experiencing bitterness

We all have experienced bitterness in our past. How has it affected us? How does it impact our ability to forgive and be forgiven?

Are you ready to make amend?

Job 10:1 " I can't stand my life-- I hate it!- I'm putting it all out on the table, all the bitterness of my life-- I'm holding back nothing."

Poor choices

In our addictions we made poor choices, not considering their effect on ourselves or others. As we become willing to make amends for those choices we need to now consider the effect of making amends to those we have harmed and ask ourselves "is this going to repair or cause further problems in this relationship?" if making amends is going cause more problems than they will resolve then they are best left as is.

In these instances we should ask for and accept God's forgiveness, forgive ourselves and move on.

Remember 'a small step on God's direction is always a positive step in our spiritual growth.

James 3:4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.

Restitution is a requirement of recovery

There are no suitable excuses for ignoring God's commandments.

Proverbs 6:30-31 Hunger is no excuse
for a thief to steal; When he's caught he has to pay it back, even if he has to put his whole house in hock.

Live in the light

Becoming willing to make amends requires us to move out of the darkness into the light. Realising my recovery is for my benefit. I can with God's help change me but I cannot change others.

Loving others means allowing them to make their own choices.

1John 2:10-11 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

Recovery is

Our foundation for Spiritual growth.

Psalms 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life.

Recovery is not

Just staying sober.

1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

Control your anger

Anger prevents us becoming willing to forgive and be forgiven.

Colossians 3:8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

Become Willing

Becoming willing is an example of us doing our part as God does His. This is a work that has to happen in our hearts.

Colossians 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Recovery for all

Regardless of who we are, where we are or what circumstances we find ourselves in we can recover with Go's help.

Romans 11:11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

Broken relationships

Broken relationships hinder our worship of God

Matthew 5:23 So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,

We need to forgive each other

Recovery is about realising our need for others.

Matthew 6:15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Outward Focus

Step 8: I made a list of the people I have harmed and became willing to make amends to them.

The first seven steps have challenged us to look at ourselves and ask God to help us change. Step eight requires us to evaluate our relationships with others. To make a list of who we have harmed, how we have harmed them and become willing to make restitution to them.

The Bible tells us the two most important commands are: love God and love others. Excuses can be made for avoiding step eight and nine but if you want to experience God's peace in your life you need to learn to give and accept forgiveness in all areas of your life.

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.