The Life Recovery Journey: Inspiring Stories and Biblical Wisdom as You Work the Twelve Steps and Let Them Work You

The Life Recovery Journey: Inspiring Stories and Biblical Wisdom as You Work the Twelve Steps and Let Them Work You

A life-changing resource for the Twelve Step journey, for anyone who struggles with addictions or dependencies―or wants to help someone who does. From the creators of the popular Life Recovery series that has guided millions of readers back to health, freedom, and wholeness, now comes the ultimate recovery book―written from a Christian viewpoint. Recovery pioneers Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop bring a biblical perspective to the Twelve Steps of Life Recovery. They share: Real-life, personal accounts of people on the road to recovery - Biblical stories and verses to support readers in their journey - Powerful principles that offer hope for the future - 4 Bible studies to accompany each Step Whether using the book alone or as a helpful companion to the popular Life Recovery Bible , this is an essential resource for anyone wanting to walk closer with God through addiction recovery, as well as for their counselors, pastors, and loved ones guiding them along the path to transformation. Previously published as The Book of Life Recovery. The Life Recovery Journey Inspiring Stories and Biblical Wisdom As You Work the Twelve Steps and Let Them Work You By Stephen Arterburn, David Stoop Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2012 Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4964-1049-8 Contents The Twelve Steps of Life Recovery, vii, Introduction, ix, STEP ONE, 1, Andrea's Story of Recovery: Getting Out of the Insanity, 1, Step One Insight, 6, Marianne's Story of Recovery: My Father's Helper, 10, Step One Bible Studies, 15, STEP TWO, 37, George's Story of Recovery: Love Is an Action, 37, Step Two Insight, 40, Cliff's Story of Recovery: Recovery Is a Process, 46, Stephanie's Story of Recovery: Watching My Dad Die, 49, Step Two Bible Studies, 53, STEP THREE, 71, Michael's Story of Recovery: Free Indeed, 71, Step Three Insight, 73, Step Three Bible Studies, 80, STEP FOUR, 97, Rick's Story of Recovery: The Second-Scariest Step, 97, Step Four Insight, 100, Step Four Bible Studies, 108, STEP FIVE, 123, Anna's Story of Recovery: God's Miraculous Answer, 123, Step Five Insight, 131, Allison's Story of Recovery: Sharing My Secrets, 136, Step Five Bible Studies, 137, STEP SIX, 155, Beth's Story of Recovery: Healing Is a Choice, 155, Step Six Insight, 156, Diane's Story of Recovery: I Was Now the Addict, 160, Step Six Bible Studies, 164, STEP SEVEN, 179, Tina's Story of Recovery: Naming My Addiction Was the First Step, 179, Step Seven Insight, 184, Step Seven Bible Studies, 195, STEP EIGHT, 209, Miranda's Story of Recovery: Everything Is Different Now, 209, Step Eight Insight, 220, Kathy's Story of Recovery: Praying for Continual Awareness, 223, Step Eight Bible Studies, 226, STEP NINE, 243, Debbie's Story of Recovery: The Classic Middle-Class Family with a Secret, 243, Laura's Story of Recovery: I Needed a Process of Self-Examination, 245, Step Nine Insight, 251, Neil's Story of Recovery: The Connection between Confession and Healing, 256, Step Nine Bible Studies, 261, STEP TEN, 277, Sharon's Story of Recovery: Sometimes the Only Way Out Is Through, 277, Step Ten Insight, 279, Amy's Story of Recovery: A Wardrobe of Masks, 283, Step Ten Bible Studies, 292, STEP ELEVEN, 307, Sarah's Story of Recovery: What It Means to Be a Child of God, 307, Step Eleven Insight, 313, Keith's Story of Recovery: Pick Up the Phone and Call Somebody, 316, Step Eleven Bible Studies, 319, STEP TWELVE, 335, Tyrell's Story of Recovery: Sharing the Message with Other People, 335, Step Twelve Insight, 339, Scott's Story of Recovery: I Am More Present for My Life, 344, Step Twelve Bible Studies, 346, Afterword, 361, Notes, 363, About the Authors, 365, CHAPTER 1 We admitted we were powerless over our problems and that our lives had become unmanageable. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ... Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ROMANS 7:15, 24 Andrea's Story of Recovery: Getting Out of the Insanity Many years of insanity finally brought me to where I am today. I could not seem to break the cycle. To my way of thinking, I had to do it all myself. I had to somehow, someway, pull myself out of the dark abyss of alcoholism. I tried every which way I could, but I could not do it. Then, in February 2007, my life started over. My story is not unique. My childhood, sadly, was not unique. It was abusive—physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually. All that stuff. If you've been there, you know it creates heartache and pain that don't subside. That's where the drugs came in and took me out of where I didn't want to be. I started using drugs when I was twelve years old. The first thing I ever tried was a hit of acid, and it was on from there because it made me laugh and feel free, and I knew th