Recovery Devotionals

STEP 1 - SMASHING DENIAL

Step 1 - We admit that within ourselves, we are powerless over our addictions and that our lives have become unmanageable.

The Bible teaches us, “‘My [God] grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’….So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). As we admit being powerless over our addictions, God’s grace begins a great work in our soul.  Our humble confession of powerlessness and unmanageability releases the power of Christ…the only Power that can help us smash denial and have victory over our addictions - one day at a time (see 1 Corinthians 15:57). Praise the Lord!

 

STEP 2 - GOD’S POWER TO CHANGE

Step 2 - We choose to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity and give us a new life. That Power is God.  

The Bible teaches us, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens [addictions], and I will give you rest’” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus invites us to come to Him, the One who has been given all power in heaven and the earth (see Mathew 28:18), and the only One who can give us a sound mind and a new life (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). The Son of God loves us! He’s waiting to replace our insanity and ungodly, addictive lifestyle with His peace and a life filled with victory, hope, and purpose. Why wait? Make a choice to believe today - and every day! Praise God!

 

STEP 3 - FREEDOM IN SURRENDER

Step 3 - We make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, and to make Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

The Bible teaches us, “We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. Commit your actions [life] to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. The LORD has made everything for his own purposes” (Proverbs 16:1-4). Since the Lord owns everything (see Psalm 24:1) and He is the source of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and protection (see Proverbs 2:6-8), doesn’t it make sense to turn our entire lives over to His care?  Remember, God’s will for you is good, pleasing, and perfect (see Romans 12:2). Praise the Lord!

 

STEP 4 - CLEANING HOUSE

Step 4 - We make a sincere and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

The Bible teaches us, “Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD” (Lamentations 3:40). This powerful step helps us get to the root of our addictions. By tracing our life in this step, we prepare to face the brokenness of our life with an all-loving, all-powerful God (Step 5)…and then we let God erase our former way of life, and we let Him replace it with a new life filled with hope, victory, and purpose (Steps 6 - 12).  Let us embrace this step, knowing that God is for us and He will give us what we need to be healed (see Romans 8:31-32 and Psalm 103:1-5). Praise God!

 

STEP 5 - FREEDOM THROUGH CONFESSION

Step 5 - We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another trusted human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

The Bible teaches us, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16). Yes, the Lord forgives us and cleanses us when we confess our sins to Him (see 1 John 1:9). But He also heals our broken hearts, wounded souls, and polluted minds when we have a follower of Christ pray for such healings. Remember, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Because of Jesus, “He has removed our sins as far from the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). Praise the Lord!

 

STEP 6 - LETTING GO

Step 6 - We are entirely ready to have God remove our defects of character (sins) that have contributed to our addictions.

The Bible teaches us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witness to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight [addiction] that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Knowing that God has great plans for our lives (see Jeremiah 29:11), what is stopping us from being willing to let go of our former way of life and ungodly behaviors? Knowing that God can do the impossible (see Matthew 19:26), what is stopping us from believing that God can change us from the inside out? Let us confess our willingness to change and trust in the Lord. It is then that He can do a new work in our hearts. Praise God!

 

STEP 7 - POWER IN PRAYER

Step 7 - We humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings and sanctify us for His glory.

The Bible teaches us, “Purify me from my sins [addictions], and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me - now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:7-10). God tells us that we will receive anything we pray for if it lines up with His Word (see 1 John 5:14-15). Since it is God’s will for us to be sanctified (set apart, state of proper functioning; see 1 Thessalonians 4:3), let us use this psalm as a prayer, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me,” and watch God do a great work as He removes our shortcomings. Glory to God!

 

STEP 8 - MAKING WRONG RIGHT

Step 8 - We make a list of all persons we have harmed and we are willing to make amends to them all.

The Bible teaches us, “Fools make fun of guilt [sin], but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation [they seek to make amends]” (Proverbs 14:9). Willingness is essential for recovery from any addiction. Knowing that God will make our enemies at peace with us if we please Him (see Proverbs 16:7), let us purpose in our hearts to seek reconciliation with the ones we have harmed as a result of our addictive behaviors. Remember, God has the power to change people’s hearts (see Ezekiel 36:26) and He will be with us during this process of making amends (see Isaiah 43:1-3). Praise God!

 

STEP 9 - FREEDOM THOUGH AMENDS

Step 9 - We make direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others.

The Bible teaches us, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple [church] and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifices to God” (Matthew 5:23-24. Recovery involves good works (amends). Just as the body is dead without breath, our faith [recovery] is dead without good works (see James 2:26). As the sweet fragrance of our amends reaches heaven, God takes delight in our prayers (see Proverbs 15:8).  Remember, “Those who refresh others [making amends with others] will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25). Praise the Lord!

 

STEP 10 - GOOD FOR THE SOUL

Step 10 - We continue to take personal inventory, and when we are wrong, we promptly admit it.

The Bible teaches us, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (Romans 12:3). Taking a daily inventory helps us to measure our success in recovery - one victory at a time.  It also allows us to deal with the issues that can lead us back down the wrong path if they are not dealt with promptly. The Lord cleanses us from guilt, shame, and the stain of our sin as we confess our wrongs to Him (see 1 John 1:9). Let us embrace this soul cleansing step as we ask the Lord to keep us honest with ourselves and others. Glory to God!

 

STEP 11 - FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

Step 11 - We seek through prayer and meditation to grow in our relationship with God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), praying for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out.

The Bible teaches us, “Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him” (Psalm 105:4). Our walk with God in recovery is not about religion, it is about a personal, growing relationship with a loving, all-powerful, merciful God. Since God’s will is good, pleasing, and perfect (see Romans 12:2), let us pray and then read and meditate on God’s Word - the source of His will (see Deuteronomy 29:29), the source of His salvation (see Romans 1:16), the source of His healing and deliverance (see Psalm 107:20), and so much more. Let us ask the Father to be filled with the Holy Spirit daily (see Luke 11:13) so that we can be empowered to remain free from addiction and do the will of God. Praise God!

 

STEP 12 - GIVEN TO GIVE

Step 12 - Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of a growing relationship with God and by working these steps, we intend to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Bible teaches us, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed” (Isaiah 61:1). We have a powerful message of hope to anyone struggling with an addiction - working these 12 Steps with the help of the Lord Jesus has the power to break the chains of addiction and give a person a new life (see Psalm 107:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus said, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” (see Matthew 10:8). What are we waiting for?  Let us pray for opportunities to be used by God to help others find freedom from active addiction! Glory to God!