JUST FOR TODAY – Step Five – Honesty

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

Just For Today – Step Five -- Fear

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

"So intense, though, is our fear and reluctance to do this that many AA's at first try to bypass Step Five.  We search for an easier way—which usually consists of the general and fairly painless admission that when drinking we were sometimes bad actors.  Then, for good measure, we add dramatic descriptions of that part of our drinking behavior which our friends probably know about anyhow.  "But of the things which really bother and burn us, we say nothing."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pgs. 55-56 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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No truer words have been written.  Step 5 is hard because for many of us the reason we were "medicating ourselves" in the first place was to escape from or to avoid facing the reality of who we are.

Now in recovery, you are asking me to verbalize and face these short comings SOBER - - a place we naturally flee.  So we do choose to pick the obvious flaws as it says above, and most of those around us already know about it.  And with each slip we say the same thing again and again, we talk about our unworthiness the words are often repeated too many times to even give us credibility anymore.

When we stop avoiding Step 5 and really work on the things deep down that are bothering us, the things we keep suppressing, the things we don't want to look at or give up, then we will begin a true step of recovery.  But you will see with the right person and the proper timing as God directs, it is something that we can do, that will not kill us, that will actually help us to grow.

“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” -- Hebrews 10:22

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.

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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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