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 -- Candor

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

"When we reached AA, and for the first time in our lives stood among people who seemed to understand, the sense of belonging was tremendously exciting.  We thought the isolation problem had been solved. But we soon discovered that while we weren’t alone any more in a social sense we still suffered many of the old pangs of anxious apartness.  Until we had talked with complete candor of our conflicts, and had listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn’t belong.  Step Five was the answer. It was the beginning of true kinship with man and God."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 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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Being in active addiction brings us to such a point of isolation that we sometimes forget what it means to belong.  We have to isolate because we are in fear of ‘being discovered’.  When we enter into recovery and walk into a recovery group, we quickly learn that there are others just like us and those people immediately embrace us and care for us.  Yes, we do have an incredible sense of belonging that we have not felt for a very long time.

But we still where several masks because there are things in our lives that are not so “pretty” and things we feel we still want to hide from.  But at some point we see others in our group begin to expose things that are wrong in their characters, and we begin to see that those that are sharing are still loved as they are – the difference between them and me is that they are sharing in humility and have a desire to change these wrongs. 

Beginning to be honest with God, ourselves and another person is the start of a deep cleansing process we HAVE to go through in order to recover.  We see as we practice this Step and as others do the step that we are 1) still loved by God; 2)  still loved by those in the group; and 3)  on the way to removing those traits and wrongs to a healthy recovery.

By confessing we are acknowledging our sins and with God are asking forgiveness thereby restoring our fellowship with Him, then all things are possible.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.  They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 (One day) the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.  He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

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.

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. -- Acts 19:17-20 

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.

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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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