HomeWork

For those interested in working on change, doing emotional healing, including addictions recovery, I have included the following homework:*

1st week 

Admit to God and myself that I have failed. I really am powerless over changing myself when relying on my own wisdom and knowledge.

Romans 7:4-25

2nd week

I admit that only God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have the power to restore wholeness, which comes through Christ's death on the cross.

John 15:4, 10 & 11, Mark 5:34, 10:26 & 27, Acts 9:34

3rd week

I now make a conscious decision to turn my life, including my "will" over to the care and direction of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Teacher, Healer, and Lord.

Joshua 1:8 & 9, Jeremiah 29:11-14, 32:27, John 14:6.

4th week

Having made the commitment, I will obey God's Call in Scripture to make a fearless, ethical, moral and Biblical inventory of my life, in order to uncover all sins and mistakes,  and to make a written list of every item uncovered.

Psalm 139, Lamentations 3:40, Jeremiah 23:24, Romans 8:26 & 27.

5th week

After making this inventory, I desire to walk in Christ 's Light. I will admit to myself, to God, and to at least one other person in Christ, the exact nature of these wrongs. ( Pray about with whom you need to share. If you have absolutely no one, then put them in an e-mail to me, indicating a response isn't needed.)

I John 1:7, I Timothy 1:15, Ephesians 5:13 & 14, Acts 13:38 & 39, Acts 2:37 & 38, Psalm 119:9-11, James 5:16.

6th week

With a better understanding of my sinful nature, I ask God for forgiveness through Christ and openly acknowledge that I am forgiven according to Scripture.

I John 2:1 & 2, I John 1:8 & 9, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 118:19, James 4:10.

7th week

Now that I have repented and been forgiven, I leave behind my old thoughts, words and deeds.

Ezekiel 18:30 & 31, Job 11:13-19, John 5:14, 8:10 & 11, Romans 12:1 & 2, II Corinthians 10:5, Colossians 3:17,  I John 2:3-6.

8th week

I will now make a list of all the persons I have harmed in thought, word or deed, and a list of all persons, I believe have harmed me; I will pray about how I can make amends.

Matthew 5:9, 43 & 44, Matthew 18:15, Luke 6:31. Ephesians 4:29-32, 5:1 & 2, Leviticus 19:17 & 18.

9th week

I will make amends to these people wherever possible, forgiving, and seeking forgiveness, restitution, or release, unless doing so would cause additional emotional pain for them or others.

Matthew 5:23 & 24, Isaiah 1:18-20, Luke 19:8.

10th week

I will continue to take personal inventory, and when I am wrong, will promptly admit it to the other person and to God.

Matthew 6:12, 26:41, Ephesians 4:22-31, 5:15-18, I Peter 5:6 & 7, Psalm 4:3-5.

11th week

I seek to improve my relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ, through prayer, Scripture study and worship, and ask for strength and wisdom to carry out His Will in my life.

Matthew 6:33, Mark 12:29-33, Acts 2:42, Joshua 1:8 &9, Psalm 89:15.

12th week

Having had a spiritual wake-up call, I will witness to others and practice a "God obedient" way of living my life.

Psalm 40:8-10, Micah 6:8, Ephesians 5:8, 6:10-18.

(*References: The Holy Bible, the NA book, AA big book, and The Twelve Steps of Wholeness through Equipping Ministries International, Inc. by Dr. G. R. Sweeten & H. B. Schell.)

Meditate on the Bible readings. Receive a verse that is speaking to you, pray that verse once every waking hour, each day of that week. It may help to write the verse on a card and keep it with you. Pray that you allow the Spirit to come in and begin the process of change.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

We praise You, the source of all power and healing. Please work change in the heart of the special person reading and praying this now. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen.