The Fifth Step of Life Recovery is about beginning to level our pride which can often hinder our walk with the Lord though the recovery process. In theory many feel that "there is no reason why I cannot admit these things to the Lord and move on.” While this may seem applicable, practical experience teaches us otherwise.
We have found that sharing these experiences with a trusted friend takes the power out of these circumstances. This is accomplished through an understanding relationship and an objective outside opinion. The additional perspective gained by sharing our previous and most troubling circumstances, can bring about tremendous relief and clarity to our lives.
We’re not the point, even though we want to be the point. Our sin nature is naturally bent toward what I want, what I need and what I desire. The revealing of how our sin nature has brought us into a collision course with God and those around us is the exact point of the 5th step. Selfishness and self-centeredness are the root of pride, fear and resentment and many conflicts are birthed from these negative emotions.
What areas are you consistently looking to the world for contentment, purpose, meaning or comfort?
What would change if you began to look toward God and His good design for you?
· “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness’… So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them”
(Genesis 1:26- 27, NIV)
What if we could really grasp that we have intrinsic worth and value because we are made in the image of God?
· “Bring My Sons and My Daughters from the ends of the earth. Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My Glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” (Isaiah 43:6-7, NASB)
What person does not want to make peace with his past? How many of us enter recovery with deep feelings of shame, fear, pride, resentment or are perplexed about the meaning of past events?
If we can admit to God, ourselves and another human being the exact nature of our wrongs, we will not regret the past anymore. We will better understand how our behavior and attitudes contribute to conflicts and more importantly, we will see how our experiences can benefit others.