1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

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

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

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

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

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The AA 12-Steps are used in the recovery of many addictions. They are not just for alcoholics. They are for addictions like drugs, food, sex, smoking and even addiction to mobile phones, social media, and so on. There is no limit to how the 12-Steps can be used. The 12-Steps are a guide to living everyday life. They can help us navigate the world around us. How much better would life be if we practiced the 12-Steps daily? 

The 12-Steps have a Biblical foundation. I understand there are people who would push back against this thought, but my goal is to show how the Scriptures form this foundation. I will explore what the Bible says, as well as other information available in the AA Big Book and the internet. 

I pray that you'll keep an open mind as we explore the 12-Steps. Mostly, I pray you'll find hope and encouragement.

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

Let's change this a bit. We admitted we were powerless over our life - that our lives had become unmanageable. Does this hit home for you? We all have something we feel powerless over and that we just can't seem to manage it. It could be alcohol, drugs, finances, relationships. or even shopping. There is something for us all. Life itself can be unmanageable. What wasn't mentioned in the list above were anxiety, depression, self esteem, negative thoughts about ourslef and others. So think about what in your life is unmanageable. Don't say nothing. If you do, you're not really in touch with yourself. 

Denial will solve nothing. In order to solve a problem we have to identify the problem exists. By naming it, we bring it into the light so we can work on making it better. Believe it our not there is freedom in admitting we are powerless. An alcoholic won't stop drinking as long as they don't see a problem. We won't stop buying things unnecessarily unless we see the problem. We won't seek help for our depression and anxiety if we deny they don't exixt. So we admit that we are powerless. We come to see that something in our lives are unmanageable. Now we are ready to address our powerlessness and our unmanageable life. In the coming days I will journey through the Bible in order to explore Step 1 a little more.

I hope you will join me on this journey.

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Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26)

A fool is someone who makes poor decisions, acts foolishly, or is easily tricked. Though it sounds harsh to think of someone as a fool, it’s kinda fitting for the addict. Think about the actions of someone who is addicted to something. I say something because there are addictions outside of drugs and alcohol. Addiction is a psychological diagnosis defined as a chronic condition that can affect many aspects of your life, including your physical and mental health, relationships and career. There are two main forms of addiction: substance use disorders and behavioral addictions. Addiction is treatable. It’s crucial to seek help as soon as possible. Some other addictions include, but not limited to:

• Gambling.
• Eating.
• Exercising or dieting.
• Shopping.
• Shoplifting or other risky behaviors.
• Having sex.
• Viewing pornography.
• Video gaming (internet gaming disorder).
• Using the internet (such as on your phone or a computer).

Like the fool we make poor decisions regarding our behavior. Alcoholics choose to drink even when they know it is a negative influencer on their life and actions. The shopaholic will purchase even when they don’t have the money. Gamblers will continue to do so even when on the verge of losing their house. There are poor decisions regarding the addiction. This isn’t to say we are fools. Only that our actions are foolish and we are easily tricked into thinking everything is great. We have to get to the point that if left to ourselves we are doomed. So we must see the folly in our actions and believe there is a better way. There is wisdom greater than what we possess.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans put this way: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Romans 7:15). As human beings, and more so addicts, we do things and later feel sorry for our actions. These are the things we don’t what to do but do them anyway. The flavor we choose for our addiction  doesn’t matter. What matters is that we lose control of our actions and our participation in our addiction. Contrary to what we think and believe, we have lost control. We have become a prisoner of whatever it is that controls us. To this point we are powerless over our addiction and we can no longer manage our lives. 

Now we’re ready to move on to Step 2. As we do I want to leave you these words of the Apostle Paul. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).