Curiosity got the better of me so I researched the origin of the 12-Step Program. The story was interesting and enlightening. If you do not know the story, I highly recommend you take 10 minutes to indulge. Fascinating!
Not only do the 12-steps apply to the recovering client, but to all people everywhere. Looking at Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, may be a daunting task. It's quite a challenge to examine ourselves- our strengths, our character defects, our attitudes, and behaviors. Where do I fall short? What changes do I need to make? And, rationalizing only leads to self-deception. We must bare our souls to Christ to allow the healing to begin. Other scriptures that relate are, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24). "For if anyone …show more content…
We may try to deny what we have done, find excuses, or try to work hard to be "good" to counteract our wrongs. None of this works. In order to put the past behind us, we must admit that we cannot do life on our own and that God must be our first choice, rather than last resort. When we confess our wrongs, we need to remember God's kind and merciful nature. No sin is too great to be forgiven. Jesus paid the price on that cross. John tells us, "If we confess our sins to Him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (I John 1:9). "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool."(Isaiah 1:18). We need to encourage the client to accept complete forgiveness from God. This should lead to gratitude, a new desire, and
Not only do the 12-steps apply to the recovering client, but to all people everywhere. Looking at Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, may be a daunting task. It's quite a challenge to examine ourselves- our strengths, our character defects, our attitudes, and behaviors. Where do I fall short? What changes do I need to make? And, rationalizing only leads to self-deception. We must bare our souls to Christ to allow the healing to begin. Other scriptures that relate are, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24). "For if anyone …show more content…
We may try to deny what we have done, find excuses, or try to work hard to be "good" to counteract our wrongs. None of this works. In order to put the past behind us, we must admit that we cannot do life on our own and that God must be our first choice, rather than last resort. When we confess our wrongs, we need to remember God's kind and merciful nature. No sin is too great to be forgiven. Jesus paid the price on that cross. John tells us, "If we confess our sins to Him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." (I John 1:9). "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool."(Isaiah 1:18). We need to encourage the client to accept complete forgiveness from God. This should lead to gratitude, a new desire, and