The 8 Recovery Principles

Based on The Beatitudes

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

(Matthew 5:3–11). 

 

PRINCIPLE 1 - STEP 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 

 

PRINCIPLE 2- STEP 2

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

 

“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” 

Matthew 5:4

 

PRINCIPLE 3- STEP 3

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

 

“Happy are the meek.” Matthew 5:5

 

PRINCIPLE 4- STEPS 4 & 5

Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to another

person whom I trust. 

 

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

 

PRINCIPLE 5- STEPS 6 & 7 

 Voluntarily submit to any and all changes 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

 

PRINCIPLE 6- STEPS 8 & 9 

Evaluate all my relationships; Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others.

 

“Happy are those who are merciful to others.” Matthew 5:7

“Happy are those who work for peace.”     Matthew 5:9

 

PRINCIPLE 7- STEPS 10 & 11

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 gain the  power to follow His will.

 

PRINCIPLE 8- STEP 12

Yield myself to be used by God 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