1. What are some of the advantages of each of the three types of inventories in your recovery? how can they help you to "be careful that you don't fall"?
- Ongoing: become more self aware, forgive myself for my actions
- Daily: make quick amends, before resentment builds and relationships are harmed.
- Periodic (monthly, quarterly, or annually): reflecting, identify patterns
2. What do the following verses mean to you and how can they help you in this step?
- "From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive." Proverbs 16:23
Think before I speak. Practice the pause. Respond, don't react.
- "Don't use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing." Ephesians 4:29
Use a filter. Don't feel the need to control or correct people, show grace to others, except when God wants me to try to help steer another believer to the right way.
- "The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21
- "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up!" Proverbs 12:25
- "If I had a gift of being able to speak in other languages without learning them, and could speak in every language there is in all of heaven and earth, but didn't love others, I would only be making noise." 1 Corinthians 13:1
Without love, all else is moot. Love is the most important of all emotions. Love everyone, hate the sin but not the sinner.
- "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak." Mark 14:38
3. What is your daily action plan for Step 10?
Reflect. Keep it balanced - good and bad. Check in monthly with sponsor. Ask God to reveal the good and the bad, so I can make amends where I need to.
4. What are the recurring events or issues that you are constantly needing to make amends for?
- With your family?
Being late. Not following through when I say I'm going to do something. Passing judgment. Unsolicited advice and trying to fix them.
- With your friends?
Gossip. Passing judgment. Being selfish. Unsolicited advice and trying to fix them.
- With those you work with?
Passing judgment. Complaining.
- With those in your church or recovery program?
Not showing up.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
LESSON 19 - CROSSROADS
Principle 7: Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.
Step 10: We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
"So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12)
1. Before you start working on Step 10, take a moment to reflect and list some of the changes in your life that have come from working the steps and principles with Jesus as your Higher Power.
- How has your behavior changed?
- What specific relationships have been restored or improved?
- How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you began your journey of recovery?
- List the new relationships that you have made along your journey.
2. In your own words, what does Step 10 mean to you?
- The what: "We continued to take a personal inventory ..."
- The why: "... and when we were wrong ..."
- The then what: "... promptly admitted it."
3. Keep a daily journal over the next 7 days. Record the good along with the bad. Write down victories and areas of needed growth. Look for patterns. Share them with your sponsor or accountability partner at the end of the week.
4. What did you learn by keeping your journal?
5. What areas did you identify as strengths?
6. What areas do you need to work on?
Step 10: We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
"So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12)
1. Before you start working on Step 10, take a moment to reflect and list some of the changes in your life that have come from working the steps and principles with Jesus as your Higher Power.
- How has your behavior changed?
- What specific relationships have been restored or improved?
- How has your relationship with Jesus grown since you began your journey of recovery?
- List the new relationships that you have made along your journey.
2. In your own words, what does Step 10 mean to you?
- The what: "We continued to take a personal inventory ..."
- The why: "... and when we were wrong ..."
- The then what: "... promptly admitted it."
3. Keep a daily journal over the next 7 days. Record the good along with the bad. Write down victories and areas of needed growth. Look for patterns. Share them with your sponsor or accountability partner at the end of the week.
4. What did you learn by keeping your journal?
5. What areas did you identify as strengths?
6. What areas do you need to work on?
Thursday, September 8, 2016
LESSON 18 - GRACE
Principle 6: Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.
Step 9: We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
1. How has Jesus Christ used your weaknesses and turned them into strengths?
2. How can you receive God's gift of grace? (Romans 5:2)
By accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and accepting his death, burial, and resurrection as God's way to wash away all of my sins. God's grace makes me strong when I am weak. His grace is enough :) His grace enables me to do what I cannot do, in and of my own strength.
3. How can you model God's gift of grace in making your amends?
Make amends whenever I can, without expecting anything in return. God extended forgiveness and grace to me, with no consideration whatsoever for any good (or bad) that I had done. I can extend that same grace to other people, just making amends because I NEED to make amends, in order to free ME from holding on to the bad.
4. In what ways have you experienced God's grace in your recovery?
In my willingness to forgive myself, to let go of guilt and shame I've carried for yeas, and to show myself grace and mercy, knowing that I'm not expected to be perfect and my past mistakes have been erased by God.
5. God loved and accepted us while we were still sinners (Ephesians 2:5). How can you model that acceptance to those whom you need to offer forgiveness or make amends?
By sacrificing my own pride and selfishness. By extending grace and acceptance without offering a forgiveness that is conditional on behavior or performance or perfection. And by continuing to show love toward people, even when I don't think they deserve it, or they choose not to accept my forgiveness.
6.
7. Why is it important that you focus only on your part in making amends or offering forgiveness?
Because by taking responsibility for my part in the situation, it better enables me to focus on showing grace and forgiveness to the other person. If I were to play the victim and claim no responsibility at all, it would be really easy to point the finger and harbor resentment towards the other person. Each thing that happens in a relationship takes TWO people, and in these cases I was the other person.
8. List some things God has shown you through working Principle 6.
Talking is freeing, and addressing ongoing problems takes their power away. I've learned how to more often speak in love, even when the conversation is difficult, rather than showing judgment or persecution.
Step 9: We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gifts 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)
“Happy are the merciful.”
(Matthew 5:7)
1. How has Jesus Christ used your weaknesses and turned them into strengths?
2. How can you receive God's gift of grace? (Romans 5:2)
By accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and accepting his death, burial, and resurrection as God's way to wash away all of my sins. God's grace makes me strong when I am weak. His grace is enough :) His grace enables me to do what I cannot do, in and of my own strength.
3. How can you model God's gift of grace in making your amends?
Make amends whenever I can, without expecting anything in return. God extended forgiveness and grace to me, with no consideration whatsoever for any good (or bad) that I had done. I can extend that same grace to other people, just making amends because I NEED to make amends, in order to free ME from holding on to the bad.
4. In what ways have you experienced God's grace in your recovery?
In my willingness to forgive myself, to let go of guilt and shame I've carried for yeas, and to show myself grace and mercy, knowing that I'm not expected to be perfect and my past mistakes have been erased by God.
5. God loved and accepted us while we were still sinners (Ephesians 2:5). How can you model that acceptance to those whom you need to offer forgiveness or make amends?
By sacrificing my own pride and selfishness. By extending grace and acceptance without offering a forgiveness that is conditional on behavior or performance or perfection. And by continuing to show love toward people, even when I don't think they deserve it, or they choose not to accept my forgiveness.
6.
7. Why is it important that you focus only on your part in making amends or offering forgiveness?
Because by taking responsibility for my part in the situation, it better enables me to focus on showing grace and forgiveness to the other person. If I were to play the victim and claim no responsibility at all, it would be really easy to point the finger and harbor resentment towards the other person. Each thing that happens in a relationship takes TWO people, and in these cases I was the other person.
8. List some things God has shown you through working Principle 6.
Talking is freeing, and addressing ongoing problems takes their power away. I've learned how to more often speak in love, even when the conversation is difficult, rather than showing judgment or persecution.
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