Step 1: I am powerless to do this on my own. I admit my need for help and Jesus Christ is the One, the only one who can fully heal and restore me.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the Law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that 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. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Romans 7: 15-19

I will accept help from others who are qualified and any treatment I may need. My life has become chaos and unmanageable and I surrender my problem and life to Christ, His Lordship for my recovery.

• Read and reflect on these passages for the next week and beyond-why we need to place our trust in Christ: 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Eph. 3:14-21; Heb. 11:32-34

• Read and reflect on these passages for the next week and beyond: why we need to place our trust in Christ: Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 9:23-24; Rom. 7:18-20; 2 Cor. 1:9; 3:4-5

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 1; 51:17; 116:1-9

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 5; 20:2-3; 147:10-11

STEP 2: Through Jesus Christ and His power to heal and restore I can be helped. I believe only He can help me recover!

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

Jesus Christ: His Lordship is the Only Power that can Help me Recover!

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 139; Isa. 40:29; Jer. 29:11; Matt. 7:7-11; John 3:16-18; 14:1-3

Step 3: Make the Determination to Turn your Life over to Jesus Christ as LORD!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

You are in God's care, so allow His hand to move and heal you!

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Gen. 3:1-7; Psalm 99:3-5; Isa. 55:8-9; John 3:16-18; Rom. 5:6-11; 8:12-30; 12: 1-21; 15:7; Eph. 2:8-9; Col. 2:13-14; 3:13; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-5; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 4:9-10

Step 4: We must take a hard look in us to see what comes out of us.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:40

We need to be examined to see what needs to be fixed.

• Meditate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 19:14; 51:10; Matt. 9:12-13; Mark 7:21; 9:23-24; 12:29-31; Ephesians 4:29-32; Philippians 4:8

• Meditate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 141:3; Proverbs 4; 25:11; 28:13; Matthew 12:33-35; Luke 6:45; 2 Corinthians 3:2; Colossians 3:5-17; 4:6; James 3:9-12

Step 5: Be willing to admit your wrongs to God, self, and others.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16

I have wronged and hurt others by my actions and words; I will commit to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Luke 11:2-4; Acts 1:14; 4:24

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: 2 Samuel 11; John 14:16-17, 26; 16:8-13; 1 John 1:9

· Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Peter 1: 1-4

Step 6: Commit yourself to obey God, His precepts so you do not go back to your old ways that cause you dysfunction!

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

Allow God to smash the substance out of your life that hinders your growth, character and Fruit.

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Romans 10:8-17; Col. 1:15-20

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Gal. 5:16-22; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 2:14-15; 4:15

Step 7: Ask God to humble and renew you so you do not continue any bad patterns.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12: 2

Go before God and ask Him to cleanse or remove anything that is in the way of Him and your recovery

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: John 8:44; Rom. 3:19-28; 4:4-5; Eph. 4:17-19;

Step 8: Who have you wronged and hurt?

Make a list and be willing with God's help to make amends.

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Matt. 18:21-35; Romans 12 with careful attention to verses 17-19

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-13; Heb. 12:1-2

Step 9: Be diligent to pursue forgiveness whenever possible.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

When we make amends, we have to be careful we do not further injure people or cause strife.

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Ezek. 33:15; Matt. 18: 21-35; Luke 15:11-24; Rom. 12:18

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Luke 23:34; 2 Cor. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 2 Pet. 1:2-4

Step 10: Continue to make amends by examining your life and what you have done to cause hurt to others and then take responsibility for it.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12

Keep on God's path for recovery so you do not fall off of it and go back to your old harmful ways.

• Mediate on this passage for the next week or more: Romans chap 8

• Mediate on this passage for the next week or more: Galatians chap 5

Step 11: Seek to grow, go to prayer, and improve your relationship with Christ.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

Pray for strength, God's Will, and the continual empowerment for recovery

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 66:16-20; Matt. 5:23-24; John 10:1-4, 14; 1 John 4:9-19

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Psalm 5:3; 32:8; Matt. 6:5-15, 33; 2 Cor. 7:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:12

Step 12: Having achieved success in spiritual growth and recovery, now seek how you can continue your success.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

How can you help others and carry the Gospel message that Christ transforms lives?

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: 2 Cor. 1:3-4; Titus 3:3-7; 1 John 1:6-7

• Mediate on these passages for the next week or more: Ecc. 4:9-10; Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 1:27; 4:8-9; 1 Pet. 2:9; 4:11

• Mediate on these passages on the basics of these 12 Steps, for the next week or more: Psalm 19:14; Isa. 1:19; Lam. 3:40; Matt. 5:23-24; Luke 6:38; 9:23; Rom. 7:18; 12. 2 Cor. 12:9; Gal. 6:1-2; Phil. 2:13; James 4:10; 5:16

Through Jesus Christ and His power to heal and restore you can be helped!

The Serenity Prayer

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living ONE DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen (Reinhold Neibuhr-1926)

© 1990, 2008, Richard .J. Krejcir Ph.D. Discipleship Tools www.discipleshiptools.org