12 Steps for Christians
Step 1 : We acknowledge and accept that we are powerless in controlling the lives of others, and that trying to control others makes our lives unmanageable.
Romans 7:18 Amplified For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in My flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Amplified Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich ( in physical gratification and earthly wealth) glory and boast in his (temporal satisfactions and earthly) riches; but let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows Me (personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character), that I am the Lord Who practices lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord.
Jeremiah 10:23-24 NIV I know , O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me Lord, but only with justice not in Your anger, lest You reduce me to nothing.
John 15:5 KJV - I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
2 Corinthians 3:4-5 AMP Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God. Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us; but our power and ability and sufficiency are from GOD.
2 Cor 1:9 NAS Indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.
Psalm 37: 23 KJV The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way.
Also see: Mark 4:35-41, 2 Cor 12:1-10, Prov 20:24, Ps 116:5-9, Isaiah 44:24-27
Step 2: We have come to believe that only through God's power and the truth of His Word can order and hope be restored in our lives.
Philippians 2:13 AMP [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you energizing and creating in you the power and desire- both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
Joshua 1:8 AMP This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
Proverbs 12:15 NIV The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
Isaiah 55:6-9 TLB Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near. 7 Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! 8 "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.
Hebrews 10:30, 35-39 TLB For we know him who said, "Justice belongs to me; I will repay them"; who also said, "The Lord himself will handle these cases." 35 Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! 36 You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised. 37 His coming will not be delayed much longer. 38 And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. 39 But we have never turned our backs on God and sealed our fate. No, our faith in him assures our souls' salvation.
Job 37:23 He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of Justice
Romans 5:5 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Habakkuk 3:19 Amp The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [ not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [ spiritual ] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility ].
See also: Romans 15:13, Job ch.38-42, Luke 5:17-26, Matt 15:21-28
STEP 3 : We make a decision to turn our lives over to God and honestly accept that taking responsibility for ourselves is the only way to have growth take place in us.
Matt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 11:29 NASB Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls
Luke 11:28 KJV Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.
1 Peter 2:13-15 NIV Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
1 Peter 5:5 NASB Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution for such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Matthew 18:4 KJV Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
James 4:7 KJV Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Lamentations 3:26 NKJV It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD
Proverbs 22:4 NIV Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
John 6:35 TLB Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again.
James 4:12 Amp One only is the Lawgiver and Judge- [the One] Who has the absolute power of life and death Who is able to save and destroy. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor ?
Ephesians 2:8 TLB Because of His kindness you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God.
James 4:13-17 NIV Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Heb 11:6-7 NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Eccl 7:20-22 NKJV For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. 21 Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.
Romans 1:17 TLB The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.
1 John 5:4 NAS Whatever is born of GOD overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith.
Romans 10:17 NAS Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 6:12 Amp In order that you may not grow disinterested and Become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith [that is by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness ], and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are inheriting the promises.
Ephesians 6:16 TLB In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.
Matthew 21:21 NAS And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it shall happen.
1 John 1:6-9 NKJV If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 143:10-12 NKJV Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. 11 Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake! For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight.
Jude 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Step 4: We make inventory of ourselves, looking at our assets and liabilities, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Confession
Galatians 6:3-6 NAS For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself, but let each one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own load. And let the one who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches.
Psalm 139:23-24 NAS Search me oh Lord, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.
Deut. 30:1-3 AMP And when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among the nations, where the Lord your God has driven you, and shall return to the Lord your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your [mind and ] heart; and with all your being; then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you.
Psalm 32:3-5 NAS When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long, for day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to Thee, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, " I will confess my transgressions to the Lord "; and Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 51:3-4 Amp For I am conscious of my transgressions & I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight; so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. [Rom 3:4]
Proverbs 28:13 NAS He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Isaiah 59: 9-12 KJV Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us; we wait for the light but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves; we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;
Jeremiah 3:13 NAS 'Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,' declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 14:20-22 KJV We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against Thee. Do not abhor us, for Thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain ? or can the heavens give showers ? Art not Thou He, O Lord our God ? Therefore we will wait upon Thee; for Thou hast made all these things.
Lam 3:19-43 NKJV Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul still remembers And sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man to bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and keep silent, because God has laid it on him; 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust--There may yet be hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, and be full of reproach. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever. 32 Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. 33 For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. 34 To crush under one's feet all the prisoners of the earth, 35 To turn aside the justice due a man before the face of the Most High, 36 Or subvert a man in his cause--The Lord does not approve.
37Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well-being proceed ? 39 Why should a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD; 41 Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven. 42 We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned.
43 You have covered Yourself with anger And pursued us; You have slain and not pitied.
Col 3:2-11 NKJV For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
Matt 7:1-5 NKJV "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
1 John 1:5-10 NKJV This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2 Peter 1:5-11 NKJV But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Cor 13:5-6 NKJV Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you ?--unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
STEP 5: USING THIS INVENTORY AS A GUIDE, WE ADMIT TO OURSELVES, TO GOD, AND TO OTHER CARING PERSONS THE EXACT NATURE OF WHAT IS WITHIN US THAT IS CAUSING OURSELVES PAIN.
Psalm 32:3-5 NKJV When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
1 Sam 15:24 NKJV Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Luke 15:21-24 NKJV And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
Matt 3:2-3 NKJV and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
Acts 19:11-20 NKJV Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
Prov 28:13 NKJV He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
Rom 12:17-18 NKJV Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Gal 6:1-3 NKJV Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
James 5:16 NKJV Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
STEP 6: We give to God all former pain, hurts and mistakes, resentments, and bitterness, anger and guilt. We trust we can let go of the hurt we cause and receive.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Amp Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [ who have borne testimony of the Truth ], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance unnecessary weight and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly ) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [ from all that will distract ] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [ giving the first incentive for our belief ] and is also its Finisher, [ bringing it to maturity and perfection ]. He, for the joy [ of obtaining the prize ] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 103:10-12 LB He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
Isa 1:18 NKJV
"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool
Joel 2:12 Amp Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting , with weeping, and with mourning [ until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored ] .
Mic 7:18-20 NKJV Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
Hos 10:12-13 NKJV Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men.
2 Tim 2:20 LB In a wealthy home there are dishes made of gold and silver as well as some made from wood and clay. The expensive dishes are used for guests and the cheap ones are used in the kitchen or to put garbage in. If you stay away from sin, you will be like one of these dishes made of purest gold the very best in the house so that Christ Himself can use you for His highest purposes. Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. Have faith and love, and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord and have pure hearts.
1 John 5:10-12 NKJV He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
STEP 7 : We can ask for help, support and guidance and begin to take Responsibility for ourselves and be responsible to others.
Gen 3:12-13 NKJV Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Deut 8:3 NKJV So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.
Mic 6:8 NKJV He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Matt 24:43-51 TLB "Just as a man can prevent trouble from thieves by keeping watch for them, 44 so you can avoid trouble by always being ready for my unannounced return. 45 "Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day? 46 Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. 47 I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own! 48 "But if you are evil and say to yourself, `My Lord won't be coming for a while,' 49 and begin oppressing your fellow servants, partying and getting drunk, 50 your Lord will arrive unannounced and unexpected, 51 and severely whip you and send you off to the judgment of the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Col 3 NKJV If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
1 Peter 5:5-10 NKJV Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
2 Chron 12:12 NIV Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.
James 4:6-12 NKJV But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
Heb 12:3-6 NKJV For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
Heb 12:11-17 NKJV Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Luke 19:1-10 NKJV Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
STEP 8 : We begin a program of living responsibly for ourselves, for our feelings, mistakes, and successes. We become responsible for our part in relationship to others.
Isaiah 1:19-20 NKJV If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Matt 5:23-24 NKJV Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matt 25:14-30 NKJV "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'
21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Rom 14:13 TLB So don't criticize each other anymore. Try instead to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something he thinks is wrong.
Rom 15:1-3 TLB Even if we believe that it makes no difference to the Lord whether we do these things, still we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves; for we must bear the "burden" of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others- of those who feel these things are wrong. Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good and thus build him up in the Lord. Christ didn't please himself. As the Psalmist said, "He came for the very purpose of suffering under the insults of those who were against the Lord."
Gal 6:2-3 NKJV 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Gal 6:2-3 TLB 2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord's command. 3 If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.
2 Cor 5:15-16 TLB He died for all so that all who live-having received eternal life from him-might live no longer for themselves, to please themselves, but to spend their lives pleasing Christ who died and rose again for them. 16 So stop evaluating Christians by what the world thinks about them or by what they seem to be like on the outside. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, merely as a human being like myself. How differently I feel now!
2 Cor 5:17-19 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
Eph 5:1-2 TLB Follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father. 2 Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like sweet perfume to him.
2 Thess 3:6-15 TLB Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you. 7 For you well know that you ought to follow our example: you never saw us loafing; 8 we never accepted food from anyone without buying it; we worked hard day and night for the money we needed to live on, in order that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It wasn't that we didn't have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to show you firsthand how you should work for your living.
10 Even while we were still there with you, we gave you this rule: "He who does not work shall not eat." 11 Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping. 12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we appeal to such people-we command them-to quiet down, get to work, and earn their own living. 13 And to the rest of you I say, dear brothers, never be tired of doing right. 14 If anyone refuses to obey what we say in this letter, notice who he is and stay away from him, that he may be ashamed of himself. 15 Don't think of him as an enemy, but speak to him as you would to a brother who needs to be warned.
2 Tim 3:1-7 TLB You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. 3 They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good. 4 They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. 5 They will go to church, yes, but they won't really believe anything they hear. Don't be taken in by people like that.
6 They are the kind who craftily sneak into other people's homes and make friendships with silly, sin-burdened women and teach them their new doctrines. 7 Women of that kind are forever following new teachers, but they never understand the truth.
1 Tim 5:8 TLB But anyone who won't care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.
STEP 9 : Make a list of persons to whom we want to make amends and commence to do so except if doing so would cause further pain for others.
Lev 24:18-19 TLB Anyone who kills an animal [that isn't his] shall replace it.
Prov 6:30-31 TLB Excuses might even be found for a thief if he steals when he is starving! 31 But even so, he is fined seven times as much as he stole, though it may mean selling everything in his house to pay it back.
Ezek 33:13-20 TLB "I have said the good man will live. But if he sins, expecting his past goodness to save him, then none of his good deeds will be remembered. I will destroy him for his sins. 14 And when I tell the wicked he will die, and then he turns from his sins and does what is fair and right- 15 if he gives back the borrower's pledge, returns what he has stolen, and walks along the paths of right, not doing evil-he shall surely live. He shall not die. 16 None of his past sins shall be brought up against him, for he has turned to the good and shall surely live. 17 "And yet your people are saying the Lord isn't fair. The trouble is they aren't fair. 18 For again I say, when the good man turns to evil, he shall die. 19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what's fair and just, he shall live. 20 Yet you are saying the Lord isn't fair. But I will judge each of you in accordance with his deeds."
Lev 6:1-7 TLB And the Lord said to Moses, 2 "If anyone sins against me by refusing to return a deposit on something borrowed or rented, or by refusing to return something entrusted to him, or by robbery, or by oppressing his neighbor, 3 or by finding a lost article and lying about it, swearing that he doesn't have it- 4 on the day he is found guilty of any such sin, he shall restore what he took, adding a 20 percent fine, and give it to the one he has harmed; and on the same day he shall bring his guilt offering to the Tabernacle. 6 His guilt offering shall be a ram without defect, and must be worth whatever value you demand. He shall bring it to the priest, 7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven."
Num 5:5-8 NKJV Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 "Speak to the children of Israel: 'When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the LORD, and that person is guilty, 7 then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged. 8 But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him.
Luke 19:6-9 TLB Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the crowds were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "Sir, from now on I will give half my wealth to the poor, and if I find I have overcharged anyone on his taxes, I will penalize myself by giving him back four times as much!" 9 Jesus told him, "This shows that salvation has come to this home today. This man was one of the lost sons of Abraham, and I, the Messiah, have come to search for and to save such souls as his."
Job 20:4-21:1 TLB "Don't you realize that ever since man was first placed upon the earth, 5 the triumph of the wicked has been short-lived, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? 6 Though the godless be proud as the heavens and walk with his nose in the air, 7 yet he shall perish forever, cast away like his own dung. Those who knew him will wonder where he is gone. 8 He will fade like a dream. 9 Neither his friends nor his family will ever see him again. 10 "His children shall beg from the poor, their hard labor shall repay his debts. 11 Though still a young man, his bones shall lie in the dust.
12 "He enjoyed the taste of his wickedness, letting it melt in his mouth, 13 sipping it slowly, lest it disappear. 14 "But suddenly the food he has eaten turns sour within him. 15 He will vomit the plunder he gorged. God won't let him keep it down. 16 It is like poison and death to him.17 He shall not enjoy the goods he stole; they will not be butter and honey to him after all. 18 His labors shall not be rewarded; wealth will give him no joy. 19 For he has oppressed the poor and foreclosed their homes; he will never recover. 20 Though he was always greedy, now he has nothing; of all the things he dreamed of-none remain. 21 Because he stole at every opportunity, his prosperity shall not continue.
22 "He shall run into trouble at the peak of his powers; all the wicked shall destroy him. 23 Just as he is about to fill his belly, God will rain down wrath upon him. 24 He will be chased and struck down. 25 The arrow is pulled from his body-and the glittering point comes out from his gall. The terrors of death are upon him.
26 "His treasures will be lost in deepest darkness. A raging fire will devour his goods, consuming all he has left. 27 The heavens will reveal his sins, and the earth will give testimony against him. 28 His wealth will disappear beneath the wrath of God. 29 This is what awaits the wicked man, for God prepares it for him."
STEP 10: We continue our program each day, checking out our progress, and asking for feedback from others in our attempt to recover and grow and we do this through support groups.
Ps 139:23-24 NKJV Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting
Ps 139:23-24 TLB Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Jer 30:16-17 NKJV 'Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; Those who plunder you shall become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will make a prey.
17 For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: "This is Zion; No one seeks her."
Rom 6:1-5 NKJV What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 12:2, 9-17 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
Gal 6:1-3 TLB Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. 2 Share each other's troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord's command. 3 If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.
Phil 3:13-14 TLB No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
2 Tim 1:6-8 TLB This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you. 7 For the Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them. 8 If you will stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to tell others about our Lord
2 Tim 1:6-8 NKJV Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
2 Tim 1:6-8 NAS For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
2 Tim 3:14-17 NKJV But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Col 3:12-13 TLB Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don't worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently. 13 Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
James 1:2-4 TLB Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3 for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.
James 5:16 TLB Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.
STEP 11: We begin to see ourselves as God sees us and seek through prayer and meditation on His Word, a deeper understanding of Him and a knowledge of His will for our lives, and the power to carry that out.
James 5:13 NKJV Is anyone among you suffering ? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful ? Let him sing psalms.
James 1:5-8 Amp. 5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering ( no hesitating , no doubting ). For the one who wavers ( hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8 [ For being as he is] a man of two minds ( hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
Matt 7:7-12 NKJV "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent ? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Heb 12:1-4 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Eph 3:17-18 TLB And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; 18 and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
Ps 68:4-6 TLB Sing praises to the Lord! Raise your voice in song to him who rides upon the clouds! Jehovah is his name-oh, rejoice in his presence. 5 He is a father to the fatherless; he gives justice to the widows, for he is holy. 6 He gives families to the lonely, and releases prisoners from jail, singing with joy! But for rebels there is famine and distress.
Jer 29:11-14 NKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity;
Josh 1:8 NKJV NKJV This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
See also.1 Corinthians 13 & Matt 6
STEP 12 : Having experienced the power of growing toward holiness, we find our bodies, minds, and spirits awakened to a new sense of physical and emotional relief which leaves us open to a new awareness of God's love for us. We are then able to relate in a healthy ways and share ourselves honestly with them, becoming who we are is a lifetime task which must be one day at a time.
Isaiah 52:7 AMP How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns!
1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [ always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord ], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose ].
Ephesians 4: 2 AMP [ Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.
Colossians 1: 27-29 Amp To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory. 28 Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One). 29 For this I labor [ unto weariness], striving with all the super human energy which HE so mightily enkindles and works within me.
1 Peter 3: 15 Amp But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully. (Isaiah 8:12-13)
