Step 8 Devotional - Making Restitution

BIBLE READING: Exodus 22:10-15

We made lists of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Dysfunctional family systems tend to affect people in a number of different ways. Some of us come to see ourselves as irresponsible and continually condemn ourselves. Others of us tend to admit that we are irresponsible but excuse ourselves because of all the things we have suffered. Still others of us may not even notice our irresponsible behaviors, but we have recurrent problems with other people because we fail to respect their property.”

The Bible clearly states, “If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation” (Exodus 22:14). David once wrote, “The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers” (Psalm 37:21).'

The Bible tells us that it’s important to take responsibility for the things we borrow. We may feel that we are being condemned as chronically evil if we have had a problem with irresponsibility. The word translated “the wicked” really means one who is morally wrong or a person who acts badly. God sees irresponsible behavior as bad action that can be corrected. He doesn’t see us as hopelessly bad. Regardless of what we have been through, we are still held responsible to respect the property of others. We need to consider those we have harmed by being negligent or irresponsible with the use of their property.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 7 Devotional - Eyes of Love

BIBLE READING: 1 John 5:11-15

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

Most of us probably aren’t used to getting the things we ask for. How can we have confidence that God will hear our prayers? How do we know he will answer when we ask him to remove our shortcomings?

The apostle Paul wrote: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4). God’s primary goal is to make us holy—that is, to form his character in us. Looking through the eyes of love, he already sees us as we will be when his work is done. Then he “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names” (Philippians 2:5-9). The author of Hebrews wrote: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2).

We can ask God to change our attitudes. When he deals with our pride, we will be able to stop hiding behind our reputation. We can allow ourself to become “anonymous,” each of us known as just another person struggling with addiction. When we humbly yield ourself to God in recovery, he promises us future honor and the restoration of our good name.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 7 Devotional -Into the Open

BIBLE READING: Philippians 2:5-9

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

Because of our pride, we may hide behind defenses during the recovery process. We may hide behind our good reputation, our important position, or a delusion of our superiority. We may feel such inner shame that we go overboard to cover up with a self-righteous public identity. Those of us who have tried to protect ourself in these ways will need a dramatic change of attitude.

The apostle Paul wrote: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names” (Philippians 2:5-9). The author of Hebrews wrote: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne” (Hebrews 12:2).

We can ask God to change our attitudes. When he deals with our pride, we will be able to stop hiding behind our reputation. We can allow ourself to become “anonymous,” each of us known as just another person struggling with addiction. When we humbly yield ourself to God in recovery, he promises us future honor and the restoration of our good name.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 7 Devotional - Declared “Not Guilty”

BIBLE READING: Romans 3:23-28

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

What are our shortcomings? We all realize that we have them. Is this just another way of saying that we have fallen short of our personal ideals? At some time all of us have held high ideals to define what we think our life should be like. But most of us learned early on that we couldn’t measure up to them. Worse yet, we have often fallen short of the expectations of others and the standards of God. Oh, the weight of guilt we carry! Oh, the pain to think of how we have disappointed those we love! Oh, the longing for some way to be what we “should be!

The apostle Paul wrote: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:23-24). Paul goes on to ask, “Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law” (3:27-28).

When God removes our sins, he does a great job! “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). We can trust God to remove our shortcomings, moment by moment, if we humble ourself to obey his Word. That means having faith in Jesus Christ to make up for our weaknesses in both character and action.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.”

Step 7 Devotional - A Humble Heart

BIBLE READING: Luke 18:10-14

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

After examining our life closely (as we did in Steps Four, Five, and Six), we may feel cut off from God. Considering the scope of what we have done, we may feel unworthy to ask God for anything. Maybe our sinful behaviors are despised as the lowest kind of evil by those whom we consider respectable. We may struggle with self-hatred. Our genuine remorse may cause us to wonder if we even dare approach God to ask for his help.

God welcomes us, even when we feel this way. Jesus told this story: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

Tax collectors were among the most despised citizens in Jewish society. Pharisees, on the other hand, commanded the highest respect. Jesus purposely chose this illustration to show that it doesn’t matter where we fit in society’s hierarchy. It is the humble heart that opens the door to God’s forgiveness.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 7 Devotional - Pride Born of Hurt

BIBLE READING: Luke 11:5-13

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

Our pride can keep us from asking for what we need. We may have grown up in a family where we were consistently ignored or disappointed. Perhaps our needs were seldom met. Some of us may have reacted by becoming self-sufficient. We determined never to ask anyone for help. In fact, we were going to strive to never need anyone’s help ever again!

It is this type of pride, born of hurt, that will hold us back from asking God to help us deal with our shortcomings. Jesus said, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and “you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11).

We must come to the place of giving up our prideful self-sufficiency; we must be willing to ask for help. And we can’t ask for help just once and be done with it. We must be persistent and ask repeatedly as the needs arise. When we practice Step Seven in this way, we can be assured that our loving heavenly Father will respond by giving us good gifts and removing our shortcomings.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.”

Step 7 Devotional - Giving Up Control

BIBLE READING: Jeremiah 18:1-6

We humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings.

Giving up control may be difficult for us. When we get ready for God to remove our shortcomings, we still may want to control how he does it. We are so used to calling the shots that we’ll ask for God’s help as long as he does it on our terms. We may demand that the changes happen on our timetable or in the order we feel ready to give them up.

God doesn’t work that way. That is why humility is such an important part of this step. God told Jeremiah to go to the potter’s shop to learn a lesson. Jeremiah said, “I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay and started again. Then the LORD gave me this message: . . . ‘Can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand” (Jeremiah 18:3-6). God told Isaiah, “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’” (Isaiah 45:9).

When we put our life in God’s hands, he will reshape us as he sees fit. It is our humility that allows us to accept the fact that he is the Creator. Our new life may be similar to the one we left behind or entirely different. God is the master craftsman. Whatever he does, we can trust that he will recreate our life beautifully, once we get out of his way!”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional - Attitudes and Actions

BIBLE READING: Philippians 3:12-14

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Getting “entirely ready” to have God remove “all” our defects of character sounds impossible. In reality we know that such perfection is out of human reach. This is another way of saying that we are going to do our best to work toward a lifelong goal that no one ever reaches until eternity.
The apostle Paul expressed a similar thought: “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. . . . Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:12-14).

This combination of a positive attitude and energetic effort is part of the mystery of our cooperation with God. Paul said: “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:12-13).

We will need to practice these steps the rest of our life. We don’t have to demand perfection of ourself; it is enough to keep moving ahead as best we can. We can look forward to our rewards with the hope of becoming all that God intends us to be. God will strengthen and encourage us as we do so.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional -Removed, Not Improved

BIBLE READING: Romans 6:5-11

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Most of us have made numerous attempts at self-improvement. Perhaps we have consciously tried to improve our attitudes, our education, our appearance, or our habits. We may have had success in self-improvement on some level. However, when it comes to our struggles with defects of character, chances are we have experienced only deep frustration.

There is a reason for our frustration. These character defects can only be removed, never improved! The illustration given us in the Bible is that our sins and defects of character must be put to death, as Jesus was, with the hope of new life to follow. The apostle Paul wrote: “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there” (Galatians 5:24).

There is no Band-Aid cure for our sins and defects of character. They have been fatally wounded and must die on the cross. This process is never easy. Who goes to a crucifixion without some measure of anxiety? But when we accept this and allow God to remove our defects, we will be pleasantly surprised by the new life that awaits us.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT

Step 6 Devotional -Discovering Hope

BIBLE READING: John 5:1-15

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

How can we honestly say that we are entirely ready for God to remove our defects of character? If we think in terms of all or nothing, we may get stuck here because we will never feel entirely ready. It is important to keep in mind that the Twelve Steps are guiding ideals. No one can work them perfectly. Our part is to keep moving, to get as close as we can to being ready.

In Jesus’ day there was a pool where people went, hoping to experience miraculous healing. “One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’ ‘I can’t, sir,’ the sick man said, ‘for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.’ Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!” (John 5:5-9).

This man was so crippled that he couldn’t go any farther on his own. He camped as near as he could to a place where there was hope for recovery. God met him there and brought him the rest of the way. For us, “entirely ready” may mean getting as close to the hope of healing as we can in our crippled condition. When we do, God will meet us there and take us the rest of the way.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional - Removing Deeper Hurts

BIBLE READING: Jonah 4:4-8

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

When we are upset, we often depend on our addiction to make us feel better. As we get rid of our addiction, we face the deeper character defects that God wants to heal. Our addiction functions as a place of “shelter” from our pain. But when that “shelter” is removed, deep anger may surface, exposing even deeper character flaws that need healing.

Jonah had a glaring defect of character: He couldn’t forgive and have compassion on the people of Nineveh, whom he hated. When God decided not to destroy them, Jonah threw a temper tantrum. “The LORD replied, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about this?’ Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city. . . . And the LORD God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. . . . The next morning . . . the plant . . . withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die” (Jonah 4:4-8).

God did this to show Jonah that the real problem wasn’t the loss of his shelter. Hatred was the real problem. The removal of our sheltering addiction may expose deeper problems. This may spark defensive anger as God touches our deepest hurts. It is all right to let the anger out. But it is also important to let God take care of the real problem.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional - God’s Abundant Pardon

BIBLE READING: Isaiah 55:1-9

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

People tell us to repent and stop thinking the way we do. Most of us would give anything to do this. If it were only that simple to stop our obsessive thoughts! When we are starving emotionally, it is almost impossible to stop thinking about what has fed that hunger, even when we realize it doesn’t satisfy.

People don’t seem to understand. They may quote a verse like, “Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong” (Isaiah 55:7). But we think, How? My thoughts seem to be out of my control.

God does understand. He put that verse into the larger context of dealing with the hunger within our soul. He said, “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. . . . Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously” (Isaiah 55:2-3, 7). The word translated “generously” can be understood to mean “in progressively increasing measure each time we come.”

We fight our addiction on two fronts: dealing with the hunger deep inside us and changing our thoughts of doing wrong. Neither battle is easily won; each requires our daily readiness and willingness to allow God to satisfy our hunger and help us overcome our defects of character.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional - Healing the Brokenness

BIBLE READING: Psalm 51:16-19

We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

If we have sincerely practiced the previous steps, we have probably found enough pain inside ourself to break our heart. Facing the fact that brokenness is part of the human condition can be crushing. But if we have arrived at this point, it is probably a sign that we are ready for God to change us.

As a young man, King David wasn’t ready for God to change his character because he didn’t recognize that it had defects. He prayed, “Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners. . . . I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy” (Psalm 26:9-11). He approached God on the basis of his own merit.

It wasn’t until later in his life when he was confronted with his sins of adultery and murder that he was able to say, “For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). He also said, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. . . . The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:16-17).
Jesus taught that “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). God isn’t looking for evidence of how good we are or how hard we try. He only wants us to mourn over our sins and admit our brokenness. Then he will not ignore our needs but will forgive us, comfort us, and cleanse us.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 6 Devotional - TAKING TIME GRIEVE

BIBLE READING: Genesis 23:1-4; 35:19-21

We were entirely ready for God to remove all these defects of character.

The pathway to recovery and finding new life also involves the death process. The different means we used to use to help us cope were “defective,” but still, they did give us comfort or companionship. Giving them up is often like suffering the death of a loved one.

Abraham and his grandson Jacob both lost loved ones as they traveled to the Promised Land. “Sarah . . . died at Kiriath- arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her. Then, leaving her body, he said . . . ‘Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.’ . . . Then Abraham buried his wife, Sarah, there” (Genesis 23:1-4, 19). A generation later, Jacob was given a new name, Israel, and the promise of a great heritage in the Promised Land. On his way there, he, too, lost his beloved wife. She died while giving birth to their son Benjamin. “So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day. Then Jacob traveled on” (Genesis 35:19-21).

As we journey on in our new life, we will necessarily lose some of our defective ways of coping. When this happens, we need to stop and take time to give our losses a proper burial. We need to put them away, cover the shame, and allow ourselves to grieve the loss of something very familiar to us. When the time of grieving is over, we, too, can journey on.

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers.

Step 5 Devotional - Freedom through Confession

BIBLE READING: Romans 2:12-15

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

All of us struggle with our conscience, trying to make peace within our own heart. We may deny what we have done, find excuses, or try to squirm out from beneath the full weight of our conduct. We may work hard to be “good,” trying to counteract our wrongs. We do everything we can to even out the score. In order to put the past to rest, however, we must stop rationalizing our sins and admit the truth.

We are all born with a built-in alarm that alerts us when we do wrong. God holds everyone accountable: “They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right” (Romans 2:15).

In Step Five we set out to stop this internal struggle and admit that wrong is wrong. It is time to be honest with God and ourself about our cover-ups and the exact nature of our wrongs. We need to admit the sins we have committed and the pain we have caused others. We may have spent years constructing alibis, coming up with excuses, and trying to plea-bargain. It is time to come clean. It is time to admit what we know deep down inside to be true: “Yes, I’m guilty as charged."

There is no real freedom without confession. What a relief it is to finally give up the weight of our lies and excuses. When we confess our sins, we will find the internal peace we lost so long ago. We will also be one step closer to recovery.


Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 5 Devotional - Receiving Forgiveness

BIBLE READING: Acts 26:12-18

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

As we work our recovery program, we go through a process of accepting the truth about our life and the consequences of our choices. We may feel that we have to earn forgiveness instead of just receiving it. We may find it easier to forgive others who have hurt us than to forgive ourself for the hurts we have caused.

When Jesus confronted the apostle Paul, he gave him this mission: “Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. . . . “Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me” (Acts 26:16-18).

God’s goal in sending his Word to us is that we may receive forgiveness. The process involves first opening our eyes to our true condition, which happens in Steps One, Two, and Four. This allows us the opportunity to repent, changing our mind so that we are in agreement with God and ready to admit our sins. God wants us to receive immediate forgiveness based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. We are not second-class citizens in the Kingdom of God. We don’t have to work the rest of the Twelve Steps as a form of penance. Forgiveness awaits us right now if we will only receive it.

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 5 Devotional - Feelings of Shame

BIBLE READING: John 8:3-11

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Shame has kept many of us in hiding. The thought of admitting our sins and revealing ourself to other human beings stirs up feelings of shame and the fear of being publicly exposed.
“The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. ‘Teacher,’ they said to Jesus, ‘. . . the law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?’ . . . Jesus stooped down and “wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one . . . until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman” (John 8:3-9).

Many believe that it was Jesus’ writing in the dust that caused the accusers to leave. Perhaps he was listing the secret sins of the Jewish leaders. If this is true, it gives us a beautiful picture of the kind of person Jesus is—a person to whom we can safely expose our secrets. Our confessor needs to be someone who is not surprised by sin and will not be waiting to condemn us. Such a person needs to take private note of our wrongs, writing them in the soft dust, not etching them in stone and posting them in public. Since shame can be a trigger for addictive behavior, we need to be careful about whom we choose to confide in.”

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 5 Devotional - The Plumb Line

BIBLE READING: Amos 7:7-8

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

The kinds of instruments we use to measure our life will often determine the kinds of problems we uncover. If we use faulty guidelines, we can’t make accurate assessments. We may wonder why we aren’t progressing in the recovery program. It may be that we need to look closely at the measuring devices we are using to uncover our problem areas.

The prophet Amos recorded this vision: “I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a “plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. And the LORD said . . . ‘I will test my people with this plumb line’” (Amos 7:7-8).

A plumb line is a length of string that has a weight tied to one end. When the string is held up with the weighted end hanging down, gravity ensures that the string is perfectly vertical. When held next to a building, the plumb line provides a sure measurement by which to check whether or not the structure is “in line” with the physical universe. A building in line with the plumb line will be sturdy and function well. If the building’s walls are out of line, they are not straight and will eventually collapse.

The same holds true in the spiritual realm. God’s Word is our spiritual plumb line. Just as we can’t argue with the law of gravity, we can’t change the spiritual laws revealed in the Bible. We should measure our life by the plumb line of God’s Word. When things don’t measure up, it is important that we admit there is a problem and start rebuilding accordingly.

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 5 Devotional - Unending Love

BIBLE READING: Hosea 11:8-11

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

We may be sorely aware of the deep shame, trouble, and pain we inflicted on our family when we were controlled by our addiction. We may be afraid to admit the exact nature of our wrongs because we don’t understand how God could love someone who is so bad.

Hosea was a prophet to the rebellious nation of Israel. God used Hosea’s life to demonstrate his unconditional love for us and his people. The Lord told Hosea to marry a prostitute. Hosea married her, loved her, and devoted “himself to her. But later his wife relapsed into her old ways, broke Hosea’s heart, and brought shame on their family. She fell into slavery. God then baffled Hosea by telling him, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the LORD still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods” (Hosea 3:1).

We may be asking, How could God (or anyone) still love me? But God asks, “Oh, how can I give you up . . . ? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you . . . ? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. . . . For I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy” (Hosea 11:8-9). There is absolutely nothing we can do or confess to God that would cause him to stop loving us (see Romans 8:38-39).

Excerpt From: Tyndale House Publishers. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.

Step 5 Devotional- Overcoming Denial

BIBLE READING: Genesis 38:1-30

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Admitting our wrongs to ourself can be the most difficult part of Step Five. Denial can be blinding! How can we be expected to admit to ourself those things we are blind to? Here’s a clue that can help us. We will often condemn in others the wrongs most deeply hidden within ourself.
According to ancient Israelite law, a widow was entitled to marry the surviving brother of her husband in order to produce children (this custom is described in de“tail in Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Tamar had been married successively to two brothers who died without giving her children. Her father-in-law, Judah, promised to give her his youngest son also, but he never did. This left her alone and destitute. In an effort to protect herself, she disguised herself as a prostitute and became pregnant by Judah himself. And she kept his identification seal, which he had given her as a pledge for payment (Genesis 38:1-23).

When Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant and unmarried, he demanded her execution. “But as they were taking her out to kill her, she sent this message to her father-in-law: ‘The man who owns these things made me pregnant. Look closely. Whose seal and cord and walking stick are these?’ Judah recognized them immediately and said, ‘She is more righteous than I am’  ” (Genesis 38:25-26).
It won’t be easy to be honest with ourself. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9). We can look at those things we condemn in others as a clue to what may be lurking within ourself.

Step 4 Devotional - God's Mercy

“BIBLE READING: Revelation 20:11-15

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

We may wish we could avoid taking moral inventory; it’s normal to want to hide from personal examination. But in our heart we probably sense that a day will come when we will have to face the truth about ourself and our life.

The Bible tells us there is a day coming when an inventory will be made of every life. No one will be able to hide. In John’s vision he saw “a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. . . . And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11-12, 15).

It is best to do our own earthly moral inventory now so we can be ready for the one to come. 

Anyone whose name is in the Book of Life will be saved, including all whose sins have been atoned for by the death of Jesus. Those who refuse God’s offer of mercy are left to be judged on the basis of their own deeds recorded in “the books.” No one will pass that test! Perhaps now is a good time to make sure that our name is in the right book. Knowing that our sins are covered with God’s forgiveness can help us examine our life fearlessly and honestly.

Step 4 Devotional - Facing the Sadness

BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 8:7-10

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Most of us falter at the prospect of making an honest personal inventory. Rationalizations and excuses for avoiding this step abound. The bottom line is that we know there is an enormous amount of sadness awaiting us, and we fear the pain that facing the sadness will bring.

The Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem after captivity in Babylon had lost touch with God. During the Exile, they hadn’t been taught his laws, so naturally, they hadn’t practiced them either. After rebuilding the city wall and the Temple, the priests gathered the people together to read the Book of the Law. The people were overwhelmed with grief and began weeping, because their lives in no way measured up.

The priests said to the people, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God. . . . Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. . . . Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:9-10). The next day marked the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a required Jewish feast celebrating the Israelites’ escape from bondage in Egypt and God’s care for them while they wandered in the wilderness.

When we set out to face the pain and sadness of making a moral inventory, we will need the “joy of the LORD” to give us strength. This joy comes from recognizing, even celebrating, God’s ability to bring us out of bondage and care for us as we pass through the sadness toward a new way of life.”

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers.

Step 4 Devotional - “Coming Out of Hiding”

BIBLE READING: Genesis 3:6-13

We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Many of us have spent our life in a state of hiding, ashamed of who we are inside. We may hide by living a double life, by using drugs or other addictions to make us feel like someone else, or by self-righteously setting ourselves above others. Step Four involves uncovering the things we have been hiding, even from ourselves.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, “they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. . . . Then the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’  ” (Genesis 3:7-10). Human beings have been covering up and hiding ever since!

Jesus consistently confronted the religious leaders about their hypocrisy. The word hypocrite describes a person who pretends to have virtues or qualities that he really doesn’t have. One time Jesus said to these leaders, “Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! . . . First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too” (Matthew 23:25-26).

When the real person inside us comes out of hiding, we will have to deal with some dirt! Making this inventory is a good day way  to “wash the inside”; some of that washing may involve bathing our life with tears. It is only by uncovering the hidden parts of ourself that we will be able to change the outer person, including our addictive/compulsive behaviors.”

Excerpt From: Arterburn, Stephen. “The Life Recovery Bible NLT.” Tyndale House Publishers.