What Is The 12 Step Program?

The 12 step program are principles to help with breaking addictions!

Please contact us if you have questions or if you need some encouragement.

What Is The 12 Step Program? NeedEncouragement.com

Would you like to talk to someone? Click Here!  Change happens when the pain of holding on becomes greater than the fear of letting go. ~ Spencer Johnson

Figuring out what is the 12 step program was a crucial starting point for me on my journey towards recovery. It provided me with the guidance and structure that I desperately needed in those early days. I do not agree with everything about the 12 step program. The founders wanted to reach everyone which is why they use the term higher power (instead of Jesus or God). Besides that, the 12 step program was very helpful to me to get my feet on the ground. However, as time went on and I gained more clean time, I found myself hungering for more help. That’s when Elmbrook Church came into the picture, offering me the kind of support that perfectly complemented what I had already learned through the 12 step program.

The 12 Steps Are Spiritual In Nature In Fighting The Battles That Are Found In Recovery! The 12 Steps Are Multi Spiritual, Meaning They Don’t Necessarily Focus Solely On Jesus Christ As A Higher Power. For Some Individuals Like Myself, It Pose A Challenge To Me Relating To The Program Fully, Yet Otherwise, The Principles Are Right On The Mark!

But by surrendering to God and making Him my higher power instead, I could truly embrace all twelve steps wholeheartedly – from admitting powerlessness to making amends and practicing these principles daily. The 12 step program may be just one part of your journey toward healing, but know that there is always more help available if you seek it out! ~ Bill Greguska

Ephesians 5:18  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

 

 

Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps!

 

 

The 12 Step Program Can Give You Some Direction!

The 12 Step Program! NeedEncouragement.com

Ten Ways To Discover Encouragement For Yourself:

  1. Encouragement for Relationships
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  3. Encouragement for Your Faith 
  4. Encouragement from Many Topics
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Find out what God’s Word says about your situation and what to do about it ~ Click here.

 

 

Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps and Biblical Comparisons!

12 step program!

The 12 step program uses the so-called original serenity prayer; this pray is another good version!

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors and that our lives had become unmanageable.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18 NIV

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 NIV

3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 NIV

4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 NIV

5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16a NIV

6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10 NIV

7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV

8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31 NIV

9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

10. We continue to take personal inventory and, when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16a NIV

12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore them gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1 NIV

 

Throughout this material, you will notice several references to the Christ-centered 12 Steps. Our prayer is that Celebrate Recovery will create a bridge to the millions of people who are familiar with the secular 12 Steps (I acknowledge the use of some material from the 12 Suggested Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous) and, in so doing, introduce them to the one and only true Higher Power, Jesus Christ. Once they begin that relationship, asking Christ into their hearts as Lord and Savior, true healing and recovery can begin!

 

 

Is The 12 Step Program Worth While?

The 12 step program is an incredible tool that has changed the lives of so many people struggling with addiction. It’s a spiritual program that provides support and guidance for those seeking to overcome their addiction, regardless of their religious background or beliefs. For many, it’s just what they need to start on the road to recovery and build a better life. But for others, like myself, once we got some clean time under our belts, we found ourselves wanting more help and guidance in our journey toward healing. That’s when I discovered Elmbrook church – a place where I could explore my faith and deepen my understanding of God’s love and grace.

Although the 12 step program was helpful initially, it wasn’t until I embraced Jesus Christ as my higher power that everything truly fell into place for me. With His guidance and strength, I was able to admit my powerlessness over addiction, turn my life over to Him completely, remove sins and shortcomings holding me back from living fully in His light, make amends for past mistakes through heartfelt apologies rooted in sincere repentance, take personal inventory by reflecting deeply upon all areas of my life while honestly evaluating how each one aligned (or didn’t) with His plan for me as outlined in scripture), practice these principles daily through prayerful contemplation coupled alongside intentional action which leads ultimately down paths leading closer towards God rather than away from Him!

 

 

 

What Is The 12 Step Program?

 

Celebrate Recovery’s Eight Recovery Principles!

The Road to Recovery Based on the Beatitudes

Realize I’m 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 that they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3a TEV

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 TEV, NIV

Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)

          “Happy are the meek.” Matthew 5:5a TEV

Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, God, and someone I trust. (Steps 4 and 5)

          “Happy are the pure in heart.” Matthew 5:8a TEV

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 and 7)

          “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires” Matthew 5:6a TEV

Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)

          “Happy are the merciful.” Matthew 5:7a TEV; “Happy are the peacemakers” Matthew 5:9 TEV

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 and 11)

Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)

          “Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” Matthew 5:10 TEV

 

  • I am concerned about my hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Celebrate Recovery

  • I am concerned about my drinking problem. AA.org

  • I am concerned about my drug problem NA.org

  • I am concerned about someone with a drinking problem. Al-Anon.org

 

 

12 Step Program Was Based On Christianity!

 

Here Are Some Helpful Links:

 

 

Since You Can Quit Anything ~ With God’s Help For:

  • 15 minutes
  • 30 minutes
  • 1 hour
  • 3 hours
  • 8 hours and longer

Then, with God’s help, there is hope for you to quit ANY addiction or bad habit that has put you in chains.

Go for the goal of 24 hours, then two days, four days, seven days, and so forth.

Do it One Day At A Time!

I am not saying it will be easy, but all things are possible with God!

 

 

My Personal Customized 12 Step Program!

By ~ Bill Greguska

  1. I admitted that I had become powerless over my addiction(s) (people and things) and that my life had become unmanageable with seemingly no way out. 
  2. I came to believe that God could restore my life and make me whole again. 
  3. I decided to turn from the things of my past and asked Jesus to be the Lord and the center of my life. 
  4. I made a complete and honest moral inventory of myself to assess what needed change. 
  5. I admitted to God, myself, and someone I could trust. I shared the exact things that were going wrong in my life in which I needed help. 
  6.  I was entirely ready to have God take away all of my character defects once and for all.
  7. I humbly asked God to remove my shortcomings and forgive me, Believing He would eliminate them and that I would receive His forgiveness so that I could start over, clean. 
  8. I made a list of people I have harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 
  9. Made direct amends to those people wherever possible, except when doing so would injure them or others. 
  10. I continually take a personal inventory of my life, and when wrong, I try to admit it promptly and make things right again.
  11. Through prayer and meditation on God’s Word, I have sought to strengthen my relationship with Him. To pray continually for the knowledge of His will for me and the power of His might to carry it out. 
  12. Upon being spiritually restored and set free from sin (which can so easily entangle me), I continue to try to share this newfound freedom and the One who has freed me with those who are still suffering. With God’s help, I eagerly attempt to act as Jesus would in all I do. 

 

 

Hear Father Martin Talk About The 1st Step In AA!

 

Some Specific Scriptures To Encourage You:

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 5:15-18 ESV 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Jeremiah 17:14 ESV

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

 

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