Carried By His Wings© -- Sexual Purity Recovery

Wings Devotional Recovery ... May 30, 2008

Just For Today – Step Five -- Confessing

STEP FIVE:   Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another person the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”  --James 5:16a

"This practice of admitting one’s defects to another person is, of course, very ancient.  It has been validated in every century, and it characterizes the lives of all spiritually centered and truly religious people.  But today religion is by no means the sole advocate of this saving principle.  Psychiatrists and psychologists point out the deep need every human being has for practical insight and knowledge of his own personality flaws and for a discussion of them with an understanding and trustworthy person.  So far as alcoholics are concerned, AA would go even further.  Most of us would declare that without a fearless admission of our defects to another human being we could not stay sober.  It seems plain that the grace of God will not enter to expel our destructive obsessions until we are willing to try this."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 56-57 Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services.  Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

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Confession – a part of coming to faith and for addicts a necessity of staying sober.  We really can never heal, never recover, never grow in our faith unless we admit that we do have flaws in our characters that lead us to make poor choices and walk the path of the unrighteous. 

It is like learning something about ourselves that we never really knew or allowed it to surface in our lives.  The key is to tell another person.  We may not want to admit it but we really can manipulate our minds into thinking something about ourselves that is not really true, we have done so successfully all during our addiction.  But verbalizing the flaws to a person whom we can trust makes it seem all the more real and also makes us now accountable to someone else who will be watching us.  God cannot reach us unless we practice this admission, acknowledge our sin and express a desire to change. 

Although this step is hard and hurtful to us, it is a step that should be done with care, consideration, honesty and with diligence to assure our sobriety.  And it goes without saying that God and prayer are the essential parts that make this step successful.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.  When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. -- Acts 19:17-19

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

·        greater personal discipline,

·        worldwide persecuted Christians,

·        Hedge of protection to our children

·        Blessings to our spouses

·        Godly men in Government

·        Rest and Peace to our pastors

·        Your activities for the day.

Love One Another

Stand Together

Fight this war, no matter the cost

Pray for our children

Turn our hearts toward heaven

Seek to be one nation under God.

God Bless and Guide You in your Christian Walk Today

“The Lord bless you and keep you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
-- Numbers 6:24-27

You can help when no one else can."
  -- c. 2001, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
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