Step 4: Made a fearless and searching moral inventory of myself
The fourth step is recognizing why I do what I do... I said that already, but I wanted to talk more about the 4th step inventory in The Twelve Steps for Christians book. We are working on Step 4 in the AWOLforchristians@yahoogroups.com.
Each day we are opening up a drawer, so to speak. These are the topics:
resentment
fear
inappropriate anger
approval seeking
caretaking
control
fear of abandonment
fear of authority figures
frozen feelings
isolation
low self-esteem
overdeveloped sense of responsibility
irresponsibility
repressed sexuality
I appreciate each time we get to this stage in the 12-step process, because I have the opportunity to look at my progress. Even after years in recovery, I still own elements of all of these character behaviors. I am better than I used to be, but certainly not where I hope to be. I accept my progress.
If anyone feels called to do this work with us, you'd be welcomed to join the AWOL for Christians loop. We also "work" the steps on Sunday night. We have a phone meeting at 5:30 PM (EST). The telephone number is on this blog. The program works because I work it.
As the Big Book says, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has throroughly followed our path..."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I like that the fourth step is without condemnation. It is about going to each area of my heart with the Lord and asking Him to shine His light on it and to bring healing into my life.
I am the person in Romans 7 who says "...I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate...And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it... love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?"
Then I am encouraged by the verses at the end of chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8: "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord...So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."
Hey, I feel a song coming on!! Have you heard this one:
My Heart, Your Home
Come and make my heart Your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through, till my heart
Becomes a home for You
A home for You, Lord
A home for You, Lord
Let everything I do
Open up a door for You to come through
That my heart would be
A place where You want to be
:o) Christine
Christine,
I don't know that song, but I love the words. I am sure that it would impress me, too :)
Isn't it great that we know the answer? It is Jesus Christ--our Lord and King! I often say, "God is the answer; what's the question?"
When I am confused and don't know what God wants, I simply say to God, "I don't know what to do, but I know that You will tell me when the time is right."
I trust Him...
He is faithful. He has never let me down.
Love,
Pam<><
Post a Comment