JUST FOR TODAY – Step Five – Inventory

INTEGRITY/TRUTH

STEP FIVE: Is the discipline of Confession.

STEP FIVE: I Admitted to God, to myself, and to another person the exact nature of my wrongs.

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

Step Five is one of the most challenging steps I face in my recovery journey, but it can also be one of the most fulfilling in terms of removing me from my isolation.  In order to accomplish Step Five, the three part sharing it endorses must take place.  This is, all of what I discovered about myself in our Step Four inventory is to be freely admitted to God, to oneself, and to another person.

There are basically five types of wrongs we should share:

1.  I need to acknowledge ALL of my additions.

2.  I need to acknowledge what went wrong in my family to initiate my codependent love hungers.

3.  I need to acknowledge the multi-generational wrongs that I have led to my family situation.  I need to understand and to be compassionate toward the family, my parents emerged from.

4.  I need to acknowledge the wrongs that l have committed in all the major relationships in my life.

5.  I need to acknowledge the specific ways in which we have wronged others by the practice of my addictions.

Because these areas are so sensitive and so very personal, it is important to exercise care in choosing the person or persons with whom I formally share my Fifth Step.  Such individuals should be trustworthy and somewhat detached from the situations which I will share.  These individuals should be compassionate, not condemning.

Four positive things happen in Step Five by sharing:

1.  My shame is reduced through confession.

2.  Step Five sharing allows me to express my grief -- to expel the resentments, the anger, the fears that eat at me and keep me from living life to the fullest.

3.  Taking a major step toward Honesty.  The single greatest barrier to recovery is the inability to be honest; this is the first time in my life, I open my deepest, darkest secrets and most private hurts to another person.

4.  Addictions, by their very nature, isolates me from other people and from God. 

Now that I made a searching and fearless moral inventory, is there anything that is "still burning me?!!!", something that I did that I have never told anyone about?

There are 21 character defects; looking at my Fourth Step and if the particular defect applies to me.  It is not necessary for me to go into detail on every one of the defects, however, that is all up to me (Rigorous Honesty).  All is asked is honesty and admitting my defects to God, to myself, and to another person,

"For where two or more have gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst". -- Matthew 18:20

STEP FIVE -- Is the beginning of the end of MY isolation ...

RECOVERY MEDITATIONS

To help you understand what the Scriptures say about confessing to God, to myself and another person ... 

Genesis 38:1-30

Proverbs 28:13-14

Hosea 11:8-11

Amos 7:7-8

Luke 15:17-20

John 8:3-11

Acts 19:18

Acts 26:12-18

Romans 2:14-15

II Corinthians 10:3-5

Galatians 6:7-10

Hebrews 4:12-16

James 5:16

I John 1:8-9

Recalling My List Of Defects From Step Four.

1.  Self - Pity

2.  Self - Justification

3.  Self - Importance

4.  Self - Condemnation

5.  Dishonesty

6.  Impatient

7.  Resentments

8.  False Pride

9.  Jealousy

10.  Envy

11.  Laziness

12.  Procrastination

13.  Insincerity

14.  Negative Thinking

15.  Immoral Thinking

16.  Criticizing

17.  Fear

18.  Greed

19.  Stealing

20.  Lust

21.  Loose Talk & Gossip

Fifth Step Prayer

Higher Power,
My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help
in admitting my wrongs to another person & to You.
Assure me, & be with me, in this Step,
for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery.
With Your help, I can do this & I will do it.

FEARLESS INVENTORY – MORAL INVENTORY

Make a grid, take a paper and pen, only between you and God – start with the seven classical areas – the 7 Deadly Sins.

1.  LAZINESS - In anything from prayer, bible study, work, etc.

2.  GLUTTONY  Over eating, eating the wrong things, something that just creeps up on you.

3.  GREED          Not just monetary, but like putting work before God, wife children, or anything before God.

4.  LUST              Natural sexual instinct that has gotten off track.  Magazines Internet, etc.  Even everyday television shows.

5.  ENVY             Wanting what I desire not what I need

6.  ANGER                   We often hide it to cover it up.

7.  PRIDE            We put ourselves in the CEO chair of our lives.  We want to appear bigger than we really are.  This sin can prevent you from successfully doing this inventory.

Remember to spend the same energy that we spend on the sin on reviewing our problems.  Seek to deal not with the symptoms but on the real problem that the Holy Spirit reveals in your life. 

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS STEP WITHOUT FIRST

GOING TO GOD IN PRAYER!

These sins are venom in our lives and ONLY Jesus Christ is the anti-venom.

*****************************************************

* 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
**********************************