12 STEPS to Recovery — STEP #11
Focus on the Recovery Process
Step 11 is a “one day at a time” step. It is all about daily spiritual maintenance. At first, we recovering people use our support groups and recovery literature as the catalysts for our spiritual and emotional growth. But as recovery develops, we experience a deeper hunger for a living connection with the Highest Power, Who is the actual source of all the good things happening in our lives.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God tells us “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (NIV). But just like the manna that was given to the Israelites in the wilderness, His grace is bestowed daily, for the day’s need. We must gather what we need for the day’s recovery journey morning by morning.
Steps to Jesus, page 69, explains this so beautifully: “Give yourself fully to God every morning. Make this your very first work. Let this be your prayer: ‘take me, O Lord, as wholly Yours. I lay all my plans at Your feet. Use me today in Your service. Live with me, and let all my work be done to honor You.’
“Every morning give yourself to God for that day. Put all your plans before Him, then carry out these plans or give them us as He guides. In this way you may give your life day by day into the hands of God. Your life will be made more and more like the life of Christ.
“A life in Christ is a restful life. There may be no feeling of great excitement [like might have come when we were in our addiction], but there should be a steady, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself. It is in Christ. Your weakness is joined to His strength.