There are a lot of misconceptions about Twelve Step Programs and the usage of the Twelve Steps themselves. Most people think this program is only for addicts or alcoholics. Indeed, the program that incorporated the Twelve Steps was started by Bill W. and Bob S. (Dr. Bob) in 1935 as a program to help alcoholics. Since then, the evidence of the benefits of the Twelve Steps has been so profound that the Twelve Steps for Alcoholics has been adapted to help Drug Addicts, Overeaters, Gamblers and numerous other addictions and afflictions. For many, working the Twelve Steps from a Christian perspective is a wonderful way to put your life back on track. It focuses first on putting yourself right with God. Second, on repairing relationships. And third, it calls us to be accountable for our actions - past, present and future.
You don't have to be an addict or alcoholic to benefit from a Twelve Step program. Our lives can be derailed for a multitude of reasons. The reality is that all of us have been harmed by someone along the way in life. Many of us have developed coping mechanisms that perhaps helped at one time but are no longer appropriate. Most of us have unresolved anger or hurt that we'd like to get past. Childhood issues may be at play or maybe you had a perfect childhood and can't figure out what went wrong in adulthood. Who among us wouldn't like more Peace in our lives? How many of us would like to repair relationships and develop a closer relationship with God? We can all benefit from a Twelve Step program.
The following Twelve Steps have been re-written from a Christian Perspective. My book can help you to learn how to put them in action and/or you can find Twelve Step meetings in your area on the internet. Look up Celebrate Recovery for a Christian Twelve Step meeting near you.
Aunt Sherry
Healing
Tools for recovery
Christianity
peace in the midst of healing
god can calm the chaos
We admitted we were powerless over compulsive and/or unhealthy behaviors – that our lives had become unmanageable.
Romans 7:15 & 18
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves (God) could restore us to sanity.
Isaiah 41:9b-10 & 13
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Lamentations 3:40
Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
James 5:16a
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
James 4:10
Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
Psalm 51:1-2
Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Luke 6:31
Made a list of all persons who had harmed us and became willing to release all anger and resentment and to forgive them.
Matthew 6:14-15
Made direct amends to such people whenever and wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Matthew 5:9
Resolved pent up anger and resentment towards those who had harmed us.
Colossians 3:13
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Ephesians 26b-27
Continued to take personal inventory and when we found ourselves vulnerable took appropriate action to avoid being a victim again.
1 John 3:1
Sought through scripture, prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God praying only for the knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Psalm 25:4-5
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I believe the 12 Step Program is God centered and I find it to be totally in line with scripture. As I worked the program, however, I found that it was lacking in one area. In the Twelve Step Program, we reconcile ourselves with God. We reconcile ourselves with those we have harmed. We resolve to continue living a life worthy of God and others. But I found no place to release the anger and resentment I held inside for those who had victimized me. So I have incorporated Steps 8A, 9A, and 10A to address that portion of many of our lives. If those areas do not pertain to you, just skip right over them. For those of us who have been victims, I hope you will find these additions helpful.
Copyright © 2018 Aunt Sherry's God Can - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy