8 recovery principles
the road to recovery based on the beatitudes
Principle 1
realize i am not god; i admit that i am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable (step 1)
“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3
Principle 2
earnestly believe that god exists, that i matter to him and that he has the power to help me recover (step 2)
“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Principle 3
consciously choose to commit all my life and will to christs care and control (step 3)
“Happy are the meek.” Matthew 5:5
Principle 4
openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to god, and to someone i trust (steps 4 & 5)
“Happy are the pure in heart.” Matthew 5:8
Principle 5
voluntarily submit to any and all changes god wants to make in my life and humbly ask him to remove my character defects
(steps 6 & 7)
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” Matthew 5:6
Principle 6
evaluate all my relationships. offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm i have done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others
(steps 8 & 9)
“Happy are the merciful.” Matthew 5:7
“Happy are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:9
Principle 7
reserve a daily time with god for self examination, bible reading and prayer in order to know god and his will for my life and to gain the power to follow his will
(steps 10 & 11)
Happy are those who celebrate recovery!
Principle 8
Yield myself to god to be used to bring his good news to others, both my my example and my words
(step 12)
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” Matthew 5:10