leading people in recovery

In the past month I have spend time with two friends that lead Celebrate Recovery ministries at their churches. CR (Celebrate Recovery) began at Saddleback Church where Rick Warren is pastor. It is a powerful program that is helping people with all kinds of situations. Go take a look at it here:http://www.saddlebackfamily.com/celebraterecovery/default.asp

I first had a conversation with Glen. As we sat at the breakfast table on my recent trip to Oklahoma I was moved to tears by Glen's testimony. How God is using at Glen and his church, Asbury in Tulsa, is amazing.

Another friend of mine, Morgan, spent some time with members of our team at the Catalyst conference. It was awesome. Morgan is a church planter from Tennessee and has worked with Raceway Ministries for several years. In our conversation about DR, I learned how God is leading some of the people at his church to find awesome freedom in Christ.

So, I began a short journey that I am still on today. That is learning about CR. As I close out this week's devotion, I am going to share with you the 8 principles of this ministry. These are powerful truths that will change our lives, if we let them. Far too many of us and the people we know are tied up, in bondage and in trouble due to so many things. God desires for us to be free. He really does. Plus we can be leading people in recovery.

Here are the 8 Principles of Celebrate Recovery

Principle 1

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 they are spiritually poor." (Matthew 5:3)

Principle 2

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)

Principle 3

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

"Happy are the meek." (Matthew 5:5)

Principle 4

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

"Happy are the pure in heart." (Matthew 5:8)

Principle 5

Voluntarily submit to every change 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 5:6)

Principle 6

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

"Happy are the merciful." "Happy are the peacemakers." (Matt 5:7, 5:9)

Principle 7

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)

Principle 8

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

"Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires." (Matthew 5:10)

Go dig a little deeper and see what God is saying to you about recovery. You may not have a problem with alcohol, pornography or drugs, but maybe you have something else that is keeping you from experiencing the freedom that God has for you and for me. This is good stuff!

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