Welcome to Recovery Wednesday as we are taking a journey through the 12 Steps.
Step 4 is very involved and emotional. This step takes time and requires us to open our heart and our mind as we dig deep to take a moral inventory. We need to honestly focus on how we’ve been hurt, how we’ve hurt others, as well as the good things that we’ve done and the good things done to us. We need to rely on our Father for the courage and strength that this step requires. Ask the Lord to guide you to a person that you trust to help you stay balanced as we do our inventory.
Proverbs 20:27- The human Spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
Lamentations 3:40- Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
*Celebrate Recovery, NA
I didn’t know how to take this step the first time that it was presented to me. I didn’t know how to feel and my heart was hard. That hardness became a way of life and I didn’t know how to soften my heart to dig deep to take an honest inventory of myself. I didn’t have friends to turn to, they were all as broken as I. And those that didn’t know ‘the real me’, I wanted to keep it that way. I didn’t let people get close to me. When I took this step the first time, my answers were words that I thought others wanted to hear. My honest inventory of myself was no where near honest. I was just going through the motions of completing the steps. Just checking a box. As I’ve mentioned before, I stopped using drugs, but I didn’t heal. Other behaviors took the place of drugs.
Now that I have a relationship with the Lord, I know myself so much better! I’ve healed wounds and have grown spiritually, emotionally, and personally. I’m excited to revisit the steps with you. I can’t wait to see what the Lord will reveal and help me mature and gain a better understanding of myself. I’m praying that you’ll grow from this journey as well.
As we prepare to take an honest inventory, may I suggest the following to help you succeed:
-Have a quiet space and set aside time specifically for your inventory.
-Be aware of things that you have used to block the pain of your past.
-Be prepared to turn your will to God’s care each day and pray that He helps you ‘wake up’ your feelings
-What things have you done to step out of your denial? Be prepared to find new ways.
-Why is it important to you to do a written inventory?
-List some good things that you’ve done in the past.
-What are some of the negative things in your past?
-Find an accountability partner.
Think about these things over the next week. This step is not one to rush through. Write down your thoughts, pray, and journal to prepare your heart as we continue Step 4 by taking our personal inventory.
Need an accountability partner? Have questions? You’re not alone, message me and together we can take this step. Meet me here next week as we continue working on this step.
Proverbs 27:17- As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
-Robin
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