Wings Devotional Recovery -- May 22, 2009

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 -- Kinship

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

"What are we likely to receive from Step Five?  For one thing, we shall get rid of that terrible sense of isolation we've always had.  Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness ... Step Five was the answer.  It was the beginning of true kinship with man and God."

c. 1952, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 57

Wings Devotional© Daily Meditation Translation

is property of Wings Of Eagles Recovery©

Just for Today -- A Daily Devotional

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Isolation is exactly where we stay most of the time when we are addicts.  Step 5 certainly removes the problem of isolation -- because it brings us face to face with a human and requires that we trust in God first and that person He has led us to for sharing. 

Confession is healing -- the Bible says for us to confess our Sins and we be healed.  When working step 5 -- do so first in prayer for God to guide you to the person you should share with -- and when we are obedient to God’s direction we will begin to develop the kinship He intended with us -- our Step 5 counselor will be the human extension of God’s arms – that means we have nothing to fear. 

Is any one of you in trouble?  He should pray. Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. -- James 5: 13-16

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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