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The Twelve Steps:
A Guide for Living Faithfully
This is the eleventh in a series of short essays by members of the
Faith Partners ministry at House of Hope on the Twelve
Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, how they serve as the basis
for recovery from many addictions, and their application to
people of faith.
The eleventh step is: “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out.”
We come into recovery physically ill, emotionally shattered and spiritually broken. We are wracked with shame and resentments, we are in despair. With the help of the Twelve Steps we discover new lives - lives that are God-centered rather than ego-centered. We learn there is a higher power that will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
“The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are about much more than living sober. To maintain a sober life without a relationship with God is hard going. This is a spiritual program of surrender and it is with this step that we begin our conscious journey of faith seeking only to do God's will.
I believe one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is peace of mind. He will give you rest, if you ask As recovered people we appreciate this rest. We remember the chaos of before.
Promptly admit we were wrong. The words, "I’m sorry, I was wrong” seem to catch in our throats. This can be especially true in a close relationship where the first one to apologize loses. Or so it seems at the time.
Steps three and seven direct us to turn our life and will over to God and ask Him to remove our shortcomings. Step eleven takes us further. It puts us on the path to God through prayer and meditation: prayer to ask God for the knowledge of His will for us and the strength and the faith to follow His plan for us, and meditation to listen for His answer. God has always been there waiting for us. With this step we take the action necessary to open our hearts to His grace and love.
The parable of the prodigal son demonstrates the power of forgiveness, if we ask for it. Everything his father had given him, the son “squandered on wild living.” (Luke 15:24) The son’s heartfelt apology motivates his father to celebrate his return. “For this son of mine was dead and now he is alive.” (Luke 15:24)
"Many are the plans in the human heart, but
it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" -Proverbs 19:36
—Susan Koll
House of Hope Faith Partners Team Ministry
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