The following is a list of recovery topics and some scripture passages pertaining to them. Feel free to post a comment as to how the topic applies to your life today.
Action – 1Cor.4:20; Eph.4:1-3;Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 5:15-18; Eph. 5:1-22; Isa. 30:21; Rom.6:1-4; Jas. 1:26; Psa. 119:1-3
Anger/Resentment – James 1:19-20; Prov. 19:11;Prov. 20:22;Lev. 19:18; 1Pet.3:8-18; Prov.15:1; Psa. 37:8-11; Prov. 22:24; Matt. 5:21-26;Prov. 14:29; Titus 3:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:8
Bitterness – Ex. 16:1-3; Prov. 10:12; Jas. 5:9; 1 Jn 2:9-11; Eph. 4:31-32 Matt. 7:1-5 Heb. 12:14-15
Blame – Gen. 3:9-15; Luke 14:15-24; Ex. 32:19-24; Rom. 1:20; 1Sam.13:11-14; Jer. 1:6-7; 1 Sam. 15:16-23
Children of God – Gal.3:26-27; Eph.2:19; Psa.116; 1Pet.1:3-7; Eph.1:5; 1Jn.3:1-2; 1Jn.4:4-8; Rom.5:1-2; 2Thess.1:11-12; Rom.8:15-23; Matt.18:3-6; Luke10:21; 1Pet.3:8; Matt.19:14; 1Pet.2:9-10; 1Jn.5:1-4; 1 Jn. 5:18-21
Courage – Psa. 143:5-10; Phil. 1:27-28; Jn. 16:33; Psa. 46:1-2; Psa. 27:14; Psa.91; Psa.28:6-9; Psa.34:1-2
Dependence on God – 2Chron.20:6-12&15; John15:5; Psa.127:1; 2Cor.3:4-5; Jer.10:23-24; Psa.139:1-5; Deut.33:27; Prov. 3:5-6; Psa. 44:4-7
Discouragement – Heb.12:12-15; Heb.12:3-4; Rev.21:3-4; Psa.34:1-7; 2Cor.4:15-18; Psa.42:4-11; Psa. 61:1-5; Psa. 73:26; Psa. 116:10-12; Isa. 50:7
Easy Does It – Prov. 14:30; Titus 2:2; Rom. 12:12; Heb. 10:36; Jas. 1:2-4; Jas. 5:7; Psa. 94:19; Hab. 2:1-3; Jer. 8:6-8; Psa. 32:8-9; Matt. 11:28-30; Psa. 119:95
Faith – Matt.6:30; Mark9:14-24; Matt.8:23-27; Rom.5:1-2; Mark11:24-25; 1Pet.5:7; Jas.1:5-8; Rom. 4:18-25; 1 Pet. 1:7-9; Eph. 6:13-17; Rom. 8:24-28
Fear – Psa. 118:5-9; Psa. 34:4; Psa. 112:1-8; Psa. 46:1-3; Jer. 1:6-9; Psa. 27:1-3; Psa. 143:1-10; Psa. 32:7; Isa. 43:1-2; Rom. 8:38-39; Psa. 56:3-4; 2Chron.20:15; Matt.14:25-33; Deut.20:3-4; Josh. 1:9; Ex. 14:13-14;Psa. 49:5
Forgiveness – Gen. 50:14-21 Psa. 65:3 Psa. 103:1-12 Acts 13:38-39 John 1:16-17 Psa. 130:1-5 Eph. 4:30-32 Matt. 6:14-15 Col. 3:9-13 Phil. 3:13-14 Mark 11:24-25 Isa. 43:25-26 Luke 17:1-4 Eph. 1:6-9 Psa. 32:1-5 Isa. 1:18 Dan. 9:9 Matt. 18:23-35 2 Cor.2:11
Freedom – John 8:32; Rom. 6:1-7; Rom. 6:22-23; Rom. 8:1-4; Gal. 5:1; 1 Pet. 2:16 Gal. 5:13-24 1 Pet. 1:2 Psa. 107:13-16 Rom. 7:21-25 Psa. 116:16 Col. 1:12-14 Acts 13:38-39 Rom. 6:14 Gal. 4:3-7
Friendship with God – Psa. 147:1-11 Jas. 4:4-10 Prov. 18:24 Psa. 25:14 Psa. 139:13-18 Acts 17:28-30 John 15:13-14 Job 16:20-22 Ex. 33:11 Heb. 13:5-6 Eph. 2:19 Rom. 5:11 Matt. 10:32-33 1 Cor. 1:9 Heb. 9:24-26 (TLB)
Grace – Ep 2:8-9, Gal2:20-21, 2Cor12:7-9, Math20:8-16, Rom6:14, Rom5:15-21
Gratitude
Col. 1:11-14 Psa. 106:1-2 Luke 17:11-19 Psa. 107:1-2 Psa. 9:11-12 1 Pet. 2:9-10 Luke 15:11-32 Col. 3:15 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Guilt – Gen. 3:8-10 Psa. 51:11-15 Rom. 5:20-21 Rom. 7:15-17 Isa. 53:6 Rom. 3:23-24 Jas. 2:10 Rom. 5:8-9 Gal. 3:21-22
Healing – Mark 5:21-34 Psa. 27:4-6 Isa. 61:1-3 Jas. 5:16 Psa. 147:3-5 Heb. 2:14-15 Matt. 4:23-25 Isa. 53:3-6 Luke 13:10-13 Hosea 5:15-6:3 Mark 2:17 Psa.107:10-22 Matt.8:14-17 Psa.116:6-19
Honesty – 1 John 1:8-10 1 Pet. 3:10-12 Rom. 12:17 Luke 16:10-13 Eph. 4:25 Zech. 8:16-17 Prov. 11:1 Prov. 20:10 Psa. 34:12-14 Prov.16:8 Psa. 51:6
Hope – 2 Thess. 2:16-17 Psa. 31:19-24 Jer.31:13-14 Eph.2:12-13 Jer.29:11 Prov.13:12 Lam.3:20-26 Rom.5:3-6 Rom.15:13 Hosea2:15 1Tim.4:9-10 Psa.40:11-12 Jonah 2:7 Rom.15:13
Humility – Psa. 37:11 Prov. 22:4 1 Cor. 1:26-31 Mark 9:35 Psa. 69:32-33 Micah 6:8 Jas. 3:13-18 Rom. 12:1-3 Jas. 4:5-10 Prov. 29:23 Psa. 147:10-11 Prov. 16:18-19 Gal. 6:1-5 Luke 15:17-18 1 Pet. 5:5-7 Luke 14:11 Matt. 5:3-4 Isa. 66:2 2 Chron. 7:14
Joy – Psa. 69:29-33 Prov. 13:12 Psa. 28:6-7 Psa. 33:20-22 Isa. 12:1-6 Psa. 34:1-3 Psa. 42:4-8 Psa. 32:1 Psa. 31:7-8 Psa. 100:1 1 Thess. 5:16-18 1 Pet. 1:6 Psa. 104:33-34 (TLB)
Let Go &Let God – 2 Cor. 1:9 Psa. 46:1-2 Psa. 33:18-22 Psa. 39:1-7 Psa. 42:9-11 Jer. 17:7-8 Jas. 4:10 Psa. 50:14-15
Love – 1 John 4:7-10 Rom. 8:35-39 1 John 4:16-21 Gal. 2:20 Col. 3:12-15 Deut. 10:12 Jude 21 1 Pet. 4:7-10 John 3:16 John 15:9-14 John 13:34-35 Rom. 5:8
Live & Let Live – Luke 10:38-42 1 Thess. 4:11 Matt. 7:1-5 Rom. 14:1-4 Rom. 2:1-4 Rom. 14:10-13 1 Cor. 4:5 Jas. 5:9 1 Cor. 2:11 Eph. 4:2-3 Jas. 4:11-12 John 21:20-23
Loneliness – Psa. 68:6 Eccl. 4:9-10 Psa. 146:1-10 1 Pet. 3:8 1 John 1:7 Psa. 31:20:22 Matt. 28:18-20 Psa. 139:1-18
Newness of Life – Rom. 6:1-4 Col. 3:9-14 Luke 15:11-24 Eph. 2:1-10 Rom. 8:11-14 Psa. 51:7-15 2 Pet. 1:2-9 Rom. 12:1-2 Eze. 11:19-20 Phil. 4:8-9 2 Cor. 5:17 1 Tim. 4:7-10 Heb. 9:13-15 Psa. 71:20-21 Psa. 116 Phil. 3:11 Psa. 30:2-3 1 Pet. 1:23-25 1 Pet. 2:10
Obedience – 1 John 5:1-5 Matt. 7:24-29 1 John 2:14:17 Jas. 2:12-13 1 Sam. 12:14-17 Jas. 2:17-20 Acts 5:28-29 1 Sam. 15:22-23 John 15:9-14 1 Chron. 22:19 Gal. 5:16-18 Heb. 5:7-8 Luke 6:46 Psa. 119:36-38
One Day at a Time – Luke 12:25-31 Luke 9:23 Phil. 4:6-7 1 Pet. 5:7 Matt. 6:25-34 Jas. 4:13-16 Psa. 110:3 (TLB) Prov. 27:1 Lam. 3:23 Heb. 3:15 1 Kings 17 Psa. 90:12 Psa. 118:24
Open-mindedness – Matt. 16:23 John 9:39 Heb. 3:10 Eph. 3:20-21 Isa. 55:8-9 Isa. 30:21Mark 9:23 Prov. 18:15 Matt. 21:28-32 1 Cor. 8:2-3
Overcoming – John16:33 Rom.12:21 Rom.13:11-14 John 8:30-32 2Tim.3:14-17 Nahum1:7 Psa40:1-3 Isa. 40:28-31 1 John 5:1-5 Deut. 20:3-4 Psa. 32:7-9 Rev. 2:26 2 Cor. 4:8-9 Isa. 50:7
Pain – Psa. 50:14-15 1 Pet. 5:8-11 Rom. 8:16-18 Heb. 11:24-25 Isa. 53:5-6 2 Cor 4:7-18 1 Pet. 4:1-5 Jas. 5:10-11 Mark 14:32-38 Heb. 2:9-10
Patience – Jas. 1:2-4 Psa. 37:7 & 34 Eccl. 7:8 Psa. 27:14 Heb. 10:36 Rom. 12:12 Jas. 5:7-11 Hab. 2:1-3 Heb. 12:1-4 Isa. 40:28-31 Rom. 8:24-25 2 Thess. 3:
Power of God – Psa. 68:34 1 Chron. 29:12-14 Eph. 6:10-17 Rom. 1:16-17 Heb. 4:12-16 Matt. 8:23-27 Isa. 40:28-31 1 Pet. 5:10-11 Rom. 8:26-39 1 Cor. 1:26-31 Eph. 3:14-21 Eph. 1:19-23 Phil. 4:13 1 Cor. 12:6-7 2 Thess. 1:11 Rom. 11:33-36 Zech. 10:12 Psa. 44:3
Prayer – Psa. 65:1-3 Rom. 8:24-28 1 Chron.16:11 John 16:16-24 Matt. 7:7-11 Jas. 5:13-16 Matt. 26:41 Rom. 12:9-12 Luke 18:1-8 Psa. 116:1-2 Psa. 62:7-8 1 Tim. 2:1-2 Jer. 29:11-13 2 Chron. 7:14
Promises – 1 Kings 8:56-60 Rom. 4:21-22 1 John 2:24-25 2 Cor. 12:9-10 John 14:1-4 Psa. 34:18-20 Rom. 8:28 Isa. 43:1-2 2 Cor. 4:16-17 Psa. 37:3 Luke 17:6 Mark 9:23 Mark 11:24 Psa. 138:6-7 Isa. 61:1-7 1 Cor. 1:8-9 Jer. 3:22 Deut. 4:29 Prov. 8:17 2 Chron. 7:14 Rom. 8:10-23 Psa. 119:49-50 Rom. 3:2-4
Rebellion – Dan. 9:9 Jas. 1:26-27 Eccl. 12:13 Jer. 5:21-25 Isa. 30:1-3 Isa. 65:1-2 Jer. 2:17 Gal. 5:16-18 Jer. 3:22
Reconciliation – 2 Cor.5:17-21 Rom. 5:1-2 Eph. 2:14-18 Isa. 53:1-6 Col. 1:20-23 Heb. 2:16-18 Matt. 5:21-24
Religion – Deut. 10:12-13 Jas. 1:26-27 Eccl. 12:13 Hosea 6:6 Mark 12:28-34 Rom. 13:8-10
Repentance – Titus 2:11-12 Jas. 4:7-12 Jer. 8:4-7 Acts 3:19 Acts 17:27-31 Acts 20:21 Rom. 2:4 2 Cor. 7:10 Isa. 30:15-16 Eze. 18:30-32 Matt. 18:3 Psa. 51:10-17 Psa. 34:18 Psa. 119:59-60
Serenity/Peace – Matt. 5:6-10 2 Thess. 3:16 (TLB) Psa. 5:11 Col. 3:15 Jer. 15:16 John 15:9-12 1Pet. 1:8-9 1 Pet. 3:11 Psa. 146:3-6 Phil. 4:4-11 Psa. 112:1-8 Matt. 11:28-30 John 14:27 Prov. 1:33 Jas. 3:17-18 (TLB) Isa. 26:3
Slips – Psa. 26:12 1 Cor. 10:13 1 Pet. 1:14-16 Jas. 1:13-15 Psa. 71:20-21 Rom. 7:15-25 Psa. 119:105 Psa. 16:8 Psa. 37:23-24 Psa. 56:13 Psa. 121:3-5 Psa. 25:8 Deut. 32:36 Prov. 16:18 2 Pet. 1:10-11 Neh. 9:28 Jude 1:24-25
Sobriety – Eph. 5:1-2 Eph. 4:1-7 Deut. 29:6 Isa. 43:12 Mar 8:34-38 1Pet.2:9-10 1Pet.1:13-14 Rom. 6:5-8 Rom. 8:30-32 1 Pet. 2:10 Heb. 12:12-15 Phil. 3:13-14 Eph. 4:17-32 Psa. 116:1-9 Eph. 5:6-11 Rom. 13:12-14 Gal. 5:16-26
Stumbling Blocks – 1 Cor. 10:1-14 1 Cor. 8:4-9 1 John 5:18-21 Eph. 5:1-9 1 Pet. 2:7-8
Temptation – Heb. 4:12-16 Matt. 26:41 Jas. 1:2-8 Heb. 2:14-18 1 Cor. 10:13 2 Thess. 3:1-5 Jas. 1:12-18 Jas. 4:4-10 Prov. 4:14-19 Eph. 6:10-17 Rom. 6:12-14 1 Pet. 5:8-9 Luke 17:1-4
Vengeance – Prov. 20:22 Lev. 19:18 Prov. 24:28-29 Matt. 5:38-39 Rom. 12:14-21 1 Pet. 3:9 1 Pet. 2:19-23
Will of God – Psa.40:6-8 Eph.6:6-7 Psa.143:5-11 Jas.4:13-17 Matt.6:31-34 2Pet.1:5-8 Matt.26:41-42 Rom. 8:28 Prov. 16:1 John 6:25-29 Rom. 12:1-2 Heb. 10:36 Jer. 29:11-13 1 Kings 8:58 Jer. 10:23-24 Psa. 32:8 2 Pet. 1:3-9 Eph. 1:8 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Willingness – Isa. 1:18-19 Psa. 51:10-12 1 Chron. 28:9 Phil. 2:13 2 Cor. 8:10-12 Rom. 12:1-2 Jer. 18:1-6
Winning over Adversity – Phil.4:11-13 Psa.112 Rom.5:3-5 (trials) 2 Cor.4:6-10 2Thess.1:3-5 Phil.3:1 2Thess.3:16 1Thess.5:16-18 Heb.10:32-36 Col.1:11 Jas.1:2-4 Psa.50:14-15 Prov.25:15 Col.2:6-7 Ex.14:13-14
Wisdom – Prov. 2:1-10 Job 28:28 Psa. 111:10 Jas. 1:5-7 Jas. 3:17-18 Prov. 4:7-9 Hosea 14:9 Col. 3:16-17 Matt. 7:24-29 Eccl. 7:11-12 2 Tim. 3:14-17 Job 12:13 Jer. 9:23-24 Dan. 2:20-22 Matt. 11:25 1 Cor. 3:19-21 Jas. 3:17
As I was looking over the verses related to Grace I was reminded of a little mental exercise that I have found to be very helpful. I read Eph 2;8-9 and as I come to the words “have been saved” I replace them with whatever struggle I may be faced with at the time. For instance, I might need to fill in the blank with “strength to resist temptation to drink”, and the resultant modification reminds me that this strength is ‘By Grace-Through Faith-Not of Myself-Not of Works”. Joe
Grace
What makes me so “different” than others? Why I do! I’m the one looking at others, judging, classifying, evaluating. But God sees us all for who we really are – His children. He gives us everything, not that He has to. No, He owes us nothing, yet provides everything, even answers. Too often, I tell myself “God doesn’t love that person as much as He loves me”, not necessarily in those words. That is my pride speaking. Words that end in “er” (better, hungrier, prettier) and more than or less than are words of pride, something not of God but man (which is sin). Romans 5:15 says “The gift is not like the trespass (sin). For if the many died by the trespass of the one man(Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!”. So I see Grace pouring out and us being vessels receiving His grace. We then, in turn, pour ourselves out to others, as we are filled again and again. When we “keep what we have by giving it away” we have His grace and are glorifying Him by passing it on.
Religion Sandy U.
It is often said that a 12 Step program is a spiritual program, not a religious one. Just what does that mean? Our being has three parts: spirit, soul and body. Often we come to recovery when all three parts are devastated: the body is exhausted; the soul is in emotional bankruptcy; and our spirits are broken.
A spiritual program focuses on the highest part of us—to put our Spirit in control of a sick body and a rebellious or disoriented soul. In the alcoholic want, cravings and passions are in control of their bodies; their soul fearful; and spirit suppressed. The family members are often controlled by the alcoholic’s behavior and responding in the best way they know how but often unwisely. They too are suffering and often unable to let go. Their souls are tortured by the guilt that they are unable to “make right” a desperate situation. Their bodies are exhausted from the chaos of emotional battering. Their spirits are hiding in a closet somewhere in the basement.
Family members have tried to fix and help, change and rearrange. Disappointment becomes depression and worry has stolen their faith. Doubts and fears have replaced hope. It seems there are no answers and no place to turn. Finally, as if by some miracle, we become open to a recovery program and reluctantly go, carrying our baggage of bitterness, resentment, anger and pride. There we learn changed attitudes can restore us to happiness.
We eventually come to understand the statement that, “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change” as we learn and accept that alcoholism is a disease. Slowly we come to recognize our feelings and find emotional balance. Emotional wounds are no longer open sores and finally we “become willing” –the first crack in the door to opening our Spirit. Alas we discover the power of our spirit as the light of truth and understanding floods our despair. We learn that it is possible to become real, know who we are and where we came from—to have faith, hope and love. Learning forgiveness and gratitude give us a real life. We strive daily to operate out of the spirit and have it in control of our soul and body and when the rebellious child (soul) acts out in others, or ourselves, the mature parent (spirit) can handle it.
The 12 Steps are a spiritual program because lasting recovery is a spiritual process aimed at transforming our spirits from defeat to freedom. No amount of religious ritual can change a heart. It is a work of the Spirit of God.
These are the thoughts and feelings from my spiritual self, as a family member of an alcoholic son who has been in recovery for two years. Praise be to God!
Note: I don’t know if you accept “family member” offerings or not. If not, I understand and it’s okay.
I listening to the audio 12 steps and I can relate effectivly with the program thanks and please send me more support In my recover in Christ Jesus.