Chemical Abuse: 12 Step Recovery With a Christian Perspective

A twelve step recovery of this sort is most beneficent after first of all the individual has come to faith in Christ, and when the issue of chemical dependency is the stronghold of the life; it is not the medication that is used to salve some other problem. The user must understand that while change from chemical dependency is good for making life better, the real goal is victory. And, victory is only possible through being saved from one’s sins by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Step I We admit that by ourselves we are powerless over chemical substances, and that trying to deal with this problem in our own strength our lives have become unmanageable.

“For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”

(Romans 7:18)

Step II We come to believe that God, through Jesus Christ can restore in us sound mind and deliver us from our affliction.

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2Corinthinas 10:3-5)

Step III We make a decision to turn the totality of our lives over to God through Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ becomes Lord of our lives.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12: 1-2)

Step IV We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. We take stock of our lives and see every part of it from the viewpoint of God.

“Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and our ways, and turn again to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:39-40)

Step V We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another trustworthy person, who will pray with you and for you, the exact nature of our wrongs, as we now understand them.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

(James 5:16)

Step VI We commit ourselves to obedience to God, desiring that He remove strongholds of sin from our lives.

“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

(James 4:10)

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)

Step VII We humbly ask God to renew our minds so that our sinful patterns can be transformed into patterns of righteousness.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice.

Let your moderation be known to all men, The Lord is at hand.

Be careful (concerned) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,

Whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

(Philippians 4: 4-8)

Step VIII We make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all. (Note: Part of the Ten Commandments deals with our duty to our fellow man.)

“If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he hath robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.”

(Ezekiel 33: 14-15)

Step IX We make direct amends to people we have harmed when possible, if we can do so without hurting them or others. If direct recompense is not possible we find some other way to make amends.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31)

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

(Romans 13:10)

The Lord Jesus Christ said “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30-31)

Step X We continue to take personal inventory, as a believer in Jesus Christ, and when we are wrong, promptly admit it.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

(1Corinthians 10: 12-13)

“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Proverbs 29:23)

Step XI We seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through prayer, Bible study, thinking upon the things of God, and obedience to His will for our lives.

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be prefect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1: 4-7)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth…Flee also youthful lusts: but follow after righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2Timothy 2: 15 & 22)

Step XII Having been set aside to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, we try to carry the message of Christ’s grace and restoration power to others who have strongholds in their lives. We then strive to live the victorious life in Christ in all our relationships.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

(Galatians 6: 1-2)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)