AA Christian New Life Recovery 12 Step

P103

Wk 3

Recovery Principal Devotional p103

Serenity Prayer Devotional p267

Step 1 A HUMBLE BEGINNING P471

 

RECOVERY PRINCIPAL DEVOTIONAL

SELF-PROTECTION

READ EXODUS 20:8-11

When we are in recovery we need to be especially careful to have all our faculties about us.  If we allow ourselves to get overtired, we will be less able to cope with the demands of life.  It will be harder for us to maintain sobriety, and we will be more susceptible to a relapse.

Rest is essential to the maintenance of any kind of balanced life.  The Bible recognizes the importance of rest for people, for farmland, for animals, and for God himself.  Weekly rest was even included as one of the Ten Commandments.  God declared, “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God.  On that day no one in your household may do any work….For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested.  That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy” (Exodus 20:9-11).  “The LORD then gave these instructions to Moses: “Tell the people of Israel: “Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation.  It is given so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (Exodus 31:12-13).

God wants us to have the rest we need for a balanced life.  As part of our recovery program we should include a weekly Sabbath or intermission.  This should be a time to relax from our regular duties and allow our body to rest.  It should also be a time of spiritual refreshment, a time to reflect on God’s promises and remember that it is God who sustains us throughout the recovery process. 

Turn to page 339, Ruth 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

P267

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference  AMEN

 

There probably have been times when we all had high hopes for a promising life-before those hopes were dashed.  But then, through the crazy and chaotic circumstances of growing up, we learned to settle for a life that was far less than what we had once hoped for.

Read Joshua 1:1-9

God led the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the edge of the Promised Land.  But as the Israelites stood on the border looking into the fruitful and prosperous land of Canaan, they lacked the faith and courage to go in because of the scouts’ reports of the powerful “giants” living there.  Joshua was one of the few who had the faith to enter, but because of the others, he was held back.  Forty years later the chance came again.  Just before he entered the land, the Lord told him, “This is my command-be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

We may have concluded that a good and healthy life is reserved for people who are better or strong than we are, but there is a Promised Land for each one of us.  Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you, “ says the Lord.  ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  We need to be courageous.  We need to believe that there can be good things in life for us.  We too, can be encouraged that regardless of our own past failures and those of our family, we can start again.  We can find our way out of the chaos of the wilderness into the Promised Land of productive and healthy living.  Turn to page 309, Judges 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P471

 

12 Step Devotional STEP 1

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 5:1-15

We admitted that we were powerless over our problems-that our lives had become unmanageable.

 

I can be very humiliating to admit that we are powerless, especially if we are used to being in control.  We may be powerful in some areas of our lives, but out of control in terms of our addictive/compulsive behaviors.  If we refuse to admit our powerlessness, we may lose everything.  That one unmanageable part may infect and destroy everything else.

The experiences of Aramean army commander Naaman illustrate how this is true.  He was a powerful military and political figure, a man of wealth, position, and power.  He also had leprosy, which promised to bring about the loss of everything he head dear:  Lepers were made outcasts from their families and from society.  Ultimately, they faced a slow, painful, and disgraceful death.

Naaman heard about a prophet in Israel who could heal him.  He found the prophet, and the prophet told him that in order to be healed he needed to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River.  Naaman went away outraged, having expected that his power would buy him an instant and easy cure.  In the end, however, he acknowledged his powerlessness, followed the instructions, and recovered completely.

Our “diseases” are as life threatening as the leprosy of Naaman’s day.  They slowly separate us from our families and lead toward the destruction of everything important to us.  There is no instant or easy cure.  The only answer is to admit our powerlessness, humble ourselves, and submit to the process that will eventually bring recovery.  Turn to page 643, Job 6.

 

 

WORKBOOK QUESTIONS

A HUMBLE BEGINNING

1.  What is the difference between humiliation and humility in my life?
2. How do I regard myself as being a little more important than other people?
3. What makes me think I am in control of anything?
4. How do I try to influence or control God or his representatives?
5. When have I placed expectations on other people or God?
6. When have my attitudes shown that I believe I know better than God?

 

 

 

 

EXTRA TIME

QUICK BIBLE STUDY ON TEMPTATION

READ GENESIS 3:1-24

Key Verse:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?”  Genesis 3:1

UNDERSTAND:

Have you ever tried to rationalize a sin that you know you are committing against God?

What will you do the next time Satan temps you to disobey God?

 

APPLY:

Satan appears as a serpent in Genesis 3.  He tempts the first people, as he temps believers today, in a sneaky manner.

Adam and Eve had heard God clearly.  He had given them free rein in the garden.  They could eat of any tree except one.  He had not restricted them in a harsh way.  They had great freedom.  They were given one rule, one tree to avoid, one guidelines to obey.

Satan was crafty in his approach, wasn’t he?  He uses this technique with believers today as well.  Use caution if you begin to think to yourself:  Does God really have such a guideline for my life?  Would He really limit me in this way?  Is this really a sin?  Is it really so bad?

God’s standards and His rules are for our good.  He has drawn boundary lines for us I pleasant places (see Psalm 16:6).  Don’t let Satan tempt you to believe otherwise.

10 commandments

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make idols

You shall not take the name of the LORD you God in vain

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

Honor your father and your mother

You shall not murder

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

 

WE BEGIN OUR REMOVAL OF SIN LIKE THIS:

Pray for the Holy Spirit’s conviction and help

Practice regular asking for forgiveness (when you wake up the next morning and realize you should of not done that activity or argument of some sort)

Remove the temptation (Don’t go where you use to., bars, crackhead dealers house, casino)

Tell a friend and pray when your ready for more intimate sin to be removed like cigs, clothes, procrastination, gossiping instead of talking it over with God to reveal to you what is going on with a certain situation)

PRAY:

God, I am sorry for rationalizing sin.  I try to find a way to make sin okay, but sin is never to be swept under the rug.  Help me to walk in Your ways and to recognize sin as sin.  Please give me strength to withstand temptation.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.