Carried By His Wings© -- Sexual Purity Recovery

Wings Devotional Recovery ... April 13, 2009

The Month of April brings us to Step Four ... We will have Step Devotionals every Monday and Friday and sometimes on Wednesday ... Tuesdays and Thursdays is for Sobriety Devotionals ...

Involves Honest Self-Examination.

There is a saying in the Recovery program that recovery is a process, not an event.  The same can be said for this step -- more will surely be revealed.

MY MORAL INVENTORY - SEARCH WITHIN

My Moral Inventory – Search Within

Rigorous Honesty

STEP FOUR: Involves Self-Examination.

STEP FOUR: I Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself. 

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord”. -- Lamentations 3:40

Just For Today -- Step Four -- Objectivity

Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

"They comfort the melancholy one by first showing him that his case is not strange or different, that his character defects are probably not more numerous or worse than those of anyone else in AA.  This the sponsor promptly proves by talking freely and easily, and without exhibitionism, about his own defects, past and present.  This calm, yet realistic, stocktaking is immensely reassuring.  The sponsor probably points out that the newcomer has some assets which can be noted along with his liabilities.  This tends to clear away morbidity and encourage balance.  As soon as he begins to be more objective, the newcomer can fearlessly, rather than fearfully, look at his own defects."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 46 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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What makes us so shocked or sad to see our flaws?  I think it is that we are not willing or humble enough to admit that we are not perfect.  The world pressure makes us think we have to be the smartest, the slimmest, the fastest, etc., and when we don't measure up to the perfect standards we become sad.  We are inundated with messages of being the best, and none of us can measure up to that.

So the beauty of performing Step Four is that we are not alone.  In our recovery group, we are hearing of the imperfections of people who are sharing their character flaws freely without guilt or shame, and they are making it. 

Step Four should be worked with your sponsor, so you can see the reality of yourself and that you are not alone in your defects, be they from the past or the ones today.  A sponsor will also remind you that in your character there are many good things, it is just at the point in our addiction when we become hopeless and turn our lives over to God that the defects seem prominent.

Remember to work your Step Four in humility, honesty and most of all in listing those great things that you have to offer as well.  And if you really struggle with find good things remember that God knows exactly how you are and He loves you right where you are that way.  He will continue to grow you and help you change each day

Psalm 139:1-3

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
 and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
 you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
 you are familiar with all my ways.

GOALS FOR STEP FOUR

· Describe a moral inventory.

· Write an inventory of dishonesty and resentment.

· Write an inventory of self-pity and false pride.

· Write an inventory of criticism and destructive anger.

· Write an inventory of fear and impatience.

· When writing your, inventory give specific examples for each behavior and attitude. 

· Search the Bible for how God views each behavior and how we are to counteract the behavior through the examples in the Bible. 

· Record insights and Scripture references.  Remember be honest.  God created you as you are and loves you unconditionally. 

· Remember that prayer before I begin invites the LORD into this process with me and will help me to see what areas GOD needs to cleanse in me.  Use my sponsor’s support, s/he is praying for me as I go through this process. 

·  Not to be discouraged, when it gets tough.  Even when I feel like walking away from the process, persevere, in the end, you are healed.

Remember you are loved!

MY MORAL INVENTORY - SEARCH WITHIN

My Moral Inventory – Search Within

Rigorous Honesty

STEP FOUR: Involves Self-Examination.

STEP FOUR: I Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of myself. 

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord”. -- Lamentations 3:40

Fourth Step Prayer:

Dear God,

It is I who has made my life a mess.
I have done it, but I cannot undo it.

My mistakes are mine & I will begin a
searching & fearless moral inventory.

I will write down my wrongs,
but I will also include that which is good.

I pray for the strength to complete the task.

Amen

RECOVERY MEDITATIONS

To help you understand what the Scriptures say about the personal inventorying of our lives, 

·        Numbers 23:18-24

·        Deuteronomy 30:15-20

·        Psalm 61:1-8

·        Proverbs 5:3-6

·        Proverbs 16:2,3

·        Isaiah 54:4-8

·        Matthew 11:27-30

·        Matthew 23:23-28

·        Luke 12:1-6

·        Romans 13:11-14

·        Acts 17:23-28

·        I Corinthians 4:19, 20

·        Galatians 6:3-5

·        James 4:7-10

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* 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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