principles of Celebrate Recovery

For more than one year we have been honored to have the Celebrate Recovery program at our church. I have learned a lot. It has been a challenge and so good.

In fact some of my favorite people to work with are those who are in or leading recovery. Even our transitional houses benefit from and need the truth and strength of recovery.

Last night at our Celebrate Recovery program was happening I was encourage by the 8 principles that the program is founded on. That is why today I share those principles with you in this e-devotion.

1. Realize I’m not God: I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3

2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.

“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Mathew 5:4

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

“Happy are the meek.” Matthew 5:5

4. Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

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

5. Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

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

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.

“Happy are the merciful.” “Happy are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:7, 9

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.

8. Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.

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

The 8 principles are tied to the 12 steps of recovery and specifically the 12 steps associated with Celebrate Recovery. When a person in this program, they often share that they are working their steps. That is a powerful comment, and it is about life change.

My prayer is that God would change lives and use these principles to encourage many people to seek God. Learn more about Celebrate Recovery. If you are in our area, join us on Tuesday evenings or find a program near you.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you

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happy Thanksgiving

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Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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