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1) We admit we are
powerless over our dependencies and that our lives have become unmanageable.
Romans 7:17
"I know nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have
the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out."
Powerless over our separation from God, we use dependencies to fill the void
caused by that separation
Unhealthy Dependencies Alcohol or Drugs
Work or Achievement
Exercise
Overspending
Sexual Addiction
Approval People, Places, Things
Food
Tobacco
Control Addictions
Power
Religiosity
Shopping
We use dependencies to avoid our pain.
We live in a fantasy world.
We cannot cope with life.
Our denial kept us from seeing how powerless and unmanageable our lives had
become.
Surrender is the answer
We had to stop fighting God, ourselves and others.
The solution:
Honesty
Open-mindedness
Willingness
 
2) We came to believe that
God could restore us to sanity.
The insanity is that we continue the same behavior and expect different results.
2 Peter 2 :22
Of them the proverbs are true: A dog returns to its vomit, and a sow that is
washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.
Proverbs ??:??
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Self-Destructive Behaviors Negative Self Talk
Physical Abuse of Self
Physical Abuse of Others
Verbal Abuse of Others
Drugs/Alcohol
Suicidal Thoughts
Isolation Destructive Relationships
Gambling
Eating Disorders
Over Working
Procrastination
Pornography
Fear
What Does F.E.A.R. Stand For For You? Forget
Everything
And
Run Face
Everything
And
Recover
Forms of Fear Fear of Being Alone
Fear of Dying
Fear of Living
Fear of Failure
Feelings of Inadequacy
Fear of People Fear of Rejection
Fear of Abandonment
Fear of the Unknown
Guilt & Shame
Fear of Economic Insecurity
3) We made a decision to turn
our will and our lives over to the care of God.
Jesus said in John 14:6
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man gets to the father except
through me."
When we rely on God we begin to trust ourselves and others.
We give him our past, our future, our will, our body, soul & spirit.
With God all things are possible.
I can't
God can
I'll let Him
Proverbs 3:5&6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your
paths."
We Turn over Good and Bad Worries
Faults
Habits
Control
Anger
Hurts
Disappointment
Dependencies Lives
Families
Talents
Strengths
Visions
Goals
Will
Possessions
2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a
sound mind."
4) Made a searching and
fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Matthew 7:3-5
Jesus said ,"Why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have
a board in your own? First get rid of the board then you can see clearly enough
to help your brother."
We write our own life story- honesty is the key that breaks denial
John 8:32
"And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free."
Behaviors Healthy Unhealthy
Generosity
Work/Career
Helping Others
Being Responsible
Being Compassionate
Communicating with Others
Admitting Mistakes
Asking for Help
Supportive of Family/Friends
Praying
Exercise
Recreation Lying
Cheating
Stealing
Pride
Greed
Lust
Envy
Jealousy
Gluttony
Slothfulness
Violence
Perfectionism
5) We admitted to God, to
ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
James 5:16a
"Therefore confess your sins one to another and pray for each other that
you may be healed."
Adam and Eve tried to hide from God in the Garden. We need to run to God not
away from him.
Confession Promotes Healing: We are as Sick as our Secrets SECRETS CAUSE HONESTY
PROMOTES
Shame
Guilt
Fear
Isolation
Alienation
Dishonesty
Denial
Low Self Worth
Inadequacy
Depression
Anger
Defensiveness
Self Hatred Trust
Confidence
Purity
Belonging
Acceptance of Others
Patience
Tolerance
Gratitude
Serenity
Peace
Openness
Self Acceptance
Forgiveness
Jesus died for our sins.
Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus."
Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome it.
6) We were entirely ready to
have God remove all these defects of character.
Romans 12:1
"I plead with you dear brothers to give your bodies to God. Let them be a
living sacrifice, Holy - The kind He can accept."
This is a lifelong process. It is progress not perfection.
We Discovered our defects in Step 4 Dishonesty
Pride
Control/Power
Lust
Greed
Envy
Jealousy Gluttony
Unhealthy Fears
Unresolved Hurts
Rage
Laziness
Irresponsibility
Other Sins
Desctructive Coping Skills Alcohol
Drugs
Food
Sex
Gambling
Tobacco
Shopping Suicide
Violence
Excessive Exercise
Work
Over Achievement
Religiosity
A Transformation is occuring.
Romans 12:2
"Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind."
7) Humbly asked God to remove
our shortcomings.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Pain has been our teacher, which is the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
God uses pain to change us, NOT to punish us.
Matthew 23:12
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted."
Paradoxes of Prayer I asked God for strength, that I might achieve
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey
I asked for health, that I might do greater things
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things
I asked for riches, that I might be happy
I was given poverty, that I might be wise
I asked for power, that I might have the praiseof men
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things
I got nothing that I asked for
But everything I had hoped for almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered
I am, among all, most richly blessed !!!
Now the truth sets us free.
8) We made a list of all
persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Luke 6:31
"And as you would like and desire that others would do to you, do so to
them."
Working Steps 8 & 9 will begin to relieve our isolation, fear, guilt, shame,
and loneliness. We learn to stop blaming others and learn to focus on taking
responsibility for ourselves. We have blamed our parents, our relatives, our
friends, out teachers, and even God. We put ourselves first on the list to make
amends to. We forgive ourselves for out wrongs. We stop punishing ourselves.
We list all the people we discovered in our 4th step inventory.
Our willingness is the importance of this step. We are willing to face the
damage we caused ourselves and others.
We look at whom we may have lied to, cheated, stole from, were envious or
jealous of, had inappropriate sexual relations with and any other hurt we
caused.
Healing damaged relationships has begun.
Forgiveness helps us to let go of hurtful events of the past.
What we don't forgive we Re-Live.
The Lord's Prayer says: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us.
One day at a time.
9) Made direct amends to such
people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Matthew 5:23-24
"If you are offering your gift at the altar and suddenly remember a friend
has something against you, go and be reconciled to that person."
We have come too far to turn back now.
We pray about who we can make direct amends to, we ask God to direct us.
We have to make amends face to face where possible.
Sometimes it may hurt another person to make a direct amend, therefore; we may
write a letter to God asking for forgiveness and healing of the other persons.
(An example might be infidelity). This would be injurious of those involved. We
become reconciled to ourselves, others and God. We are feeling a purity in
ourselves.
Isaiah 1:18
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."
Psalm 103:12
God will remove our sins as far as the east is from the west.
We begin to feel self worth, self respect, dignity, honor, and love for self and
others.
We are no longer controlled by our secrets. We moved from the darkness into the
light.
We have the courage to face Life.
10) We continued to take
personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
1 Corinthians 10:12 I
"f you think you are standing firm, be careful you don't fall."
We continue to take inventory of ourselves to assure we keep a clear conscience.
We ask the holy spirit to search us daily and when we are wrong we promptly
admit it.
Our faith has given us healthier thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
We have replaced fear, guilt, shame, isolation, loneliness, anger and other
destructive behaviors with:
Replacements for Fear Gratitude
Acceptance
Humility
Forgiveness
Generosity
Caring
Truth
Patience
Respect
Humor
We make a gratitude list and add to it daily.
We learn about H.A.L.T. We don't become too:
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
We seek Godly counsel when needed. We have learned to associate with healthy
people.
Proverbs 27:17
"Just as iron sharpens iron, people sharpen people."
We learn to guard, protect, and polish our Temple as it is the dwelling place
for the Holy Spirit.
11) We sought through prayer
and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as revealed through
the person of Jesus Christ, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us
and the power to carry that out.
The Bible is the greatest source for discovering
God's will and purpose for our lives.
B asic
I nstructions
B efore
L eaving
E arth
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you ", Declares the Lord, "
plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future."
Matthew 7:7
"Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will
be opened to you."
Revelation 3:8
"I will open doors no man can close and close doors no man can open."
Prayer is talking to God.
Meditation is listening to God.
12) Having had a Spiritual
Awakening as a result of these steps, which is the revelation of Jesus Christ,
we try to carry this message to others and to practice these Biblical principles
in all our affairs.
Galatians 6:1
"Brothers, if someone is overtaken by sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him. But be careful, or you also may be tempted."
Luke 15:20
"And he arose, and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off,
his father saw him, and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed
him."
Just as the prodigal son was restored to his rightful place, God is restoring us
to our rightful place.
We are amazed at how far we've come.
More will be revealed as we continue walking these steps.
Step 12 allows us to carry the message of healing to a hurting world.
We practice the principles of the steps in every area of our lives. We help
others on their exodus from bondage.
It is in dying to Self that we are born anew.
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