Everyday 12 Steps, Part One

The 12-steps were designed originally for men struggling with an addiction to alcohol. Over the years these steps have been applied to many other addictions and struggles and can be used by anyone. Many people who work the steps say that steps one through three are steps that should be done on a daily basis. In the 12 steps for Christians, step one states:

We admitted we were powerless over the effects of our separation from God-that our lives had become unmanageable

We come into this world with the seed of sin already in us due to the fall. It does not take long to look into this world or at the news and see the sinful nature of humans. This can be extremely defeating to look at. We have immense amounts of hope, however, because we know that God has an amazing plan for us and He will win in the end.

Romans 7:18 is a verse paired with this step that states: “I know 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.”

On a daily basis, we can admit that our lives are unmanageable and we cannot carry out the good we would like to without the help of God. This may sound very disempowering and feel as though we are failing. However, God is great! When we admit this powerlessness we are made strong in Him. This power is greater than any human strength we can muster.

God can and will carry out His good works through you and will give you the strength to face any challenge that you face today.

By: Sam Hicks, LPC

Morning Reflection

The following is an excerpt from a book by Francine called Morning Reflections for Christians in Recovery. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, you can email her at fcostanza@heritagecounseling.com.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18:  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It may seem a bit crazy to “look at the things which are not seen.”   I mean, how can we see something that is not visible?  Especially if we are afflicted, confused, and barely hanging on!  

We often look for what we have lost so that we can see it, hold it and have it again. We search and wait and pray, hoping it will materialize to satisfy our longing, and bring us the fulfillment it once did. Sometimes we find it and sometimes we don’t.  When we find it we rejoice and thank God.  When we don’t we grieve, and question God’s love for us and His wisdom. If it is something vital to us we may ask, “How can a gracious God withhold what is so important,  or maybe even a basic need?  How can He take from us that which we love?  The cruelty of life seems to abound.  The more we love someone, the more we can fear losing them.  Especially when we see tragedy happening all around us.  What a frightening world we live in, where pain is inevitable and dying is right around the corner.  Is it all a bad dream?  An Alice in Wonderland fantasy?  How can a loving God take _______ from us?  We could fill in the blank with a any number of nouns, verbs and adjectives.  Rather than continuing down this path of hopelessness, we must push past these thoughts to find a greater truth, one that will take us to higher ground.  There the view becomes somewhat clearer as we begin to look at the things which are “unseen.”

I believe that this “higher ground” is found in the pages of God’s Word.  The unseen things which are eternal and of incredible value are found there.  Hope is found there and and a multitude of treasures from God:  faith in Jesus Christ who died for us so we can live forever with Him, courage to face every day, trust that God will make all things right in His time, perseverence through every trial, the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). There is also comfort to be found there, mercy, grace, contentment, knowledge, salvation and transformation.  The list could go on and on of all the unseen jewels of life for us to live by that God provides in His Word.

As we wait for the day when Jesus returns and makes all things new and permanent, we can hold on to His invisible strength, knowing that our desires will materialize in God’s time.  Nothing that really matters is forever lost. Jesus proved that when He conquered death, and He encourages us to believe in His power and love with all things, both seen and unseen.