Step 4

Hello my name is Travis, I am a grateful believer in Jesus and I struggle with dipping and gambling.  You might ask why anyone would want to write about the 4^th step.  Step 4:  We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

For me this was the best step.  It was the step that I tried my whole life not to do.  This step made me get real with myself, God and someone I trusted.  I wore so many different masks throughout my life; however, this step forced me to be real.  This step made me think of every person, place, or thing that was good and bad in my life. 

I completed my inventory by evaluating my life in four stages:  Elementary, Middle and High School, College, and the years I have been married.  By using these stages I was able to concentrate only on that time instead of jumping around my whole life.  As I wrote down on paper the good and the bad things I had done it was a humbling experience.  So, these four stages helped me stay focused and balanced.

 

I have done my fourth step four times now.  I truly try to think back to these four stages of life and see if there was anything I missed.  I try to not have any secretes untold to myself, God or my sponsor.  Having a good sponsor is a critical key to completing this step; so, select your sponsor wisely.  

If you haven’t done a fourth step you need to.  It is one of many ways in the recovery process that will change not only your heart but your mind as well. 

Grateful believer,

Travis

Step 3

Hello, my name is Jennifer.  I’m a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I struggle with suicidal thoughts and PTSD. 

Step 3 states that I am to make a decision to turn my will and life over to the care of God.  I would not have predicted this being as hard for me as it has proven to be since I accepted Christ when I was 17.  I had already made that decision, right?  Yes, I had accepted that Jesus Christ died on a cross for my sins and that he rose again and lives today at the right hand of the throne of God.  That was shortly followed by Baptism, so I was all set.

That was 21 years ago.  I had “accepted” that, but I became lost inside myself until the urging of a wise counselor sent me through the doors of Celebrate Recovery 27 months ago.  I got started and was on step 8 when I realized that I had taken steps 1-3 for granted.  I needed to start over. 


Starting over started on my knees, I made a decision to be willing to seek and follow God’s will.  I have to stay focused to remember that my life is worth living and that God has a plan for me.  It’s a daily struggle and when I think I am making progress, I sometimes stumble.  Sometimes I want to hold onto options that are outside of God’s will. 


For me, I learned from a member of my recovery team that it’s okay to recover slowly, it’s okay to focus on the decision part of step 3; after all, maturing as a Christian is a daily process of giving my will over to God because He is the perfect manager for my life...


"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11


Grateful Believer,
Jennifer

Step 2

I've said it before, but when Micah and Karyn ask you to do a lesson, write a blog, etc it usually happens to be something that you're dealing with at the moment.  Except the time they asked me to talk about being humble.

Anyway, I "got signed up" to talk about Step 2.  Part of my recovery is my struggle with depression and all of the lies that come with it.  Even if you don't struggle with depression, I'm sure there are times when you question your own sanity.  This is where Step 2 comes in.

Step 2 states, We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  That power of course is God.  "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Philippians 2:13.  Sanity is defined as good sense or soundness of judgement.  Maybe you're believing the lies of depression, or maybe your divorce has you making questionable decisions, regardless of the specific cause, at some point our hurts, habits, and hang ups affect our sanity.  No matter what is having you question your sanity, God can restore it.

Your part is to be willing to let God work in you to restore your sanity.

Maybe you're believing the lie that you're not ready, you don't have time for a step study, your accountability partners are too busy and tired of hearing about your problems.  Maybe you think you're not worth it.  Why would God take the time and effort to restore you to sanity when there are so many deserving people who need it?  These are lies Satan wants you to believe.  The truth is, like the prodigal son, God rejoices when we turn to Him.

To work Step 2 requires prayer, open communication with your accountability team, and faith.  Regular attendance at your CR program doesn't hurt either.  Much like all the Steps, you may revisit this one and need to be restored to sanity more than once.  That's okay!  I know that I do.

Grateful Believer,

Andrew

Step 1

My name is Micah Hobbs and I’m a grateful believer in Jesus, and I’m in recovery from alcoholism and anger.  Twelve years ago I would not have been willing to say that.  I thought I was in control and I certainly was not grateful, or a believer in Jesus.  I was living in a dark insanity of dysfunctional behavior and addiction, but I thought I was fine. 

God blessed me with a moment of clarity nearly 12 years ago, and I admitted for the first time in my life that my life was out of control.  Step one puts it like this: “We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.”  Paul puts it like this in Romans 7:18, “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.” 

That was so true for me.  I had a lot of good intentions of putting the alcohol down and changing my behaviors, but I could never carry it out.  My life was unmanageable in every way.

For me, the most powerful part of step one is stepping out of denial and admitting that I had a problem.  For four years I was the “manager” of my life and I did what I wanted to do.  It was humbling to admit that I was the maker of my mess; but, when I said that out loud, it was truly the first step in my road to recovery.  There is power in saying to the Lord, “ I cannot do this anymore.  I tried to manage my life and I made it a living hell.  I need You to step, take control and do for me what I could not do for myself.”

Step one: turning the powerlessness of my life over to the ONE who has the power to turn it around.

Grateful Believer,

Micah