Twelve Steps and Scripture

1.

Admit you are powerless over the event and that your life became unmanageable.

"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." (Romans 7:18)

2.

Believe that a Power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity. God and Family.

"... my grace is sufficient for you, for my POWER is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

3.

Make a decision to turn your will and your life over to the care of your higher power.

"... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23qqqq)

4.

Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of yourself.

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." (Lamentations 3:40)

5.

Admit to God, yourself, and those around you the exact nature of your wrongs.

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16)

6.

Be faithful to the tasks that will remove the defects from your character.

"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land." (Isaiah 1:19)

7.

Humbly ask for forgiveness, and the removal of your shortcomings.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." (James 4:10)

8.

Make a list of all the persons you harmed and be willing to make amends to them all.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23, 24qqqq)

9.

Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38qqqq)

10.

Continue to take personal inventory and when you are wrong, promptly admit it.

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith GOD has given you." (Romans 12:3)

11.

Seek through prayer and meditation to improve your conscious contact with God as you understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will, and the power to carry that out.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

12.

After you experience a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, carry the message to others, and practice the principles in all your affairs.

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)