The Recovery Course

“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” Ephesians 3:20 - The Message

“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you...Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs” Jonah 2:7-8 – New International Version

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” James 5:16– The Message

“Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God.” Lamentations 3:40 – The Message

“Let’s take a good look at the way we’re living and reorder our lives under God” Lamentations 3:40 – The Message

“Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.” Psalm 34:17 – The Message

Step 2: We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity “Jesus...spoke up, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out’” Luke 5:31-32 – The Message

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do...for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing... what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:17-20 – NIV

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realise that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” Romans 7:17-20 – The Message