Tamara – Page 32 – REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES

In The Twelve Steps to Victory™ column, we’re reframing the traditional 12 Steps with a focus on victory vs continually looking back at our missteps and failures. Each Step aligns with the months on the yearly calendar. This series publishes on the first Friday of each month in 2025.

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs, knowing that confession is key to finding victory. — Step Five

Key Verse

“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” — James 5:16

Introduction

Step Five is a pivotal moment in our journey to victory. It calls us to move beyond silent acknowledgment of our sins and to confess them openly—to God, to ourselves, and to a trusted person. This act of confession, though daunting, is the gateway to healing and freedom. Many of us carry the burden of shame, guilt, or fear, but Scripture reminds us that confession leads to renewal and a fresh start.

Why Is This Step Important?

Holding on to unconfessed sin or past failures can create a heavy burden, keeping us from walking in true freedom.

CONFESSION:

Releases us from hidden shame that keeps us spiritually stuck.
Breaks the cycle of secrecy and allows us to embrace God’s grace fully.
Opens the door for accountability and healing, as we invite trusted individuals to walk with us in restoration.

The enemy thrives in darkness, but confession brings our struggles into the light of God’s truth, where they lose their power over us.

Practical Application

Confess to God First – Take time in prayer to lay everything before God. He already knows, but verbalizing our struggles and sins helps us experience His forgiveness in a tangible way.
Be Honest with Yourself – Journaling can be a powerful way to process what needs to be confessed and recognize patterns of behavior that need God’s healing.
Find a Trusted Confidant – Choose someone who is spiritually mature, such as a mentor, pastor, or close friend, to whom you can confess. Their encouragement and prayers will help you walk in freedom.
Speak God’s Truth Over Yourself – Replace shame with God’s promises of grace. Meditate on Scriptures that affirm His love and redemption, like Romans 8:1 (“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”).

Illustration

David’s heartfelt confession in Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba is a powerful example of Step Five in action. He didn’t just acknowledge his sin—he confessed it to God with a heart seeking renewal. God, in His mercy, restored David, just as He promises to restore us when we humbly confess.

Discussion Question

What holds you back from confessing your struggles to God or a trusted person? How might confession bring healing and freedom in your life?

Application Challenge

This week, commit to confessing one struggle or past mistake to God in prayer. If you feel led, find a trusted accountability partner and share what’s on your heart. Pay attention to how confession lightens your burden and brings peace.

Conclusion

Confession isn’t about dwelling in guilt—it’s about walking in grace. God desires healing, not condemnation, and through confession, we experience true spiritual freedom. Let Step Five be a turning point where you trade secrecy for surrender and step fully into the victory God has for you.

I pray Cody Carnes’ music video: Run to the Father is a true blessing to you as you lean into the comfort of our Father’s arms.

On the fourth Friday of each month in 2025, we’re studying The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee. Join me as we confront the enemy’s lies of self-doubt and find our victory in the truth of who we are according to God’s Word!

I’m so excited to continue our journey through The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee. Last month, we uncovered the trap of basing our worth on performance and how it leads to fear, anxiety, and burnout. Now, we turn to God’s Answer – Justification, which reveals how we can fully rest in Christ’s righteousness instead of striving for approval through our own works.

Summary: Chapter Four – God’s Answer: Justification

Many of us spend our lives trying to prove we are “good enough,” believing that our worth is tied to our successes or failures. This chapter introduces justification, the biblical truth that God declares us righteous through Christ, apart from our own efforts. Justification means that when God looks at us, He sees Jesus’ perfection, not our shortcomings. This truth frees us from guilt and self-condemnation, allowing us to live with confidence in God’s love rather than fear of failure.

“Because of Christ’s finished work, we don’t have to strive for God’s acceptance—we already have it.” – Paraphrase from Robert S. McGee

Biblical Truths

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Our peace with God is not based on our actions but on His grace through faith.
Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
- Our salvation is based on God’s mercy, not our performance.

Key Idea

Justification means that we are fully accepted by God through faith in Christ. We don’t have to earn His love or approval—it’s already given.

Reflection Question

Have you ever felt like you needed to prove your worth to God or others? How does knowing you are justified by faith in Christ change that perspective?

Practical Application

Speak Truth Over Yourself – Each morning, remind yourself: “I am justified by faith, not by my performance.” Post Romans 5:1 somewhere visible to meditate on throughout the day.
Release the Burden of Perfection – Write down any areas where you feel pressured to “be enough.” Surrender them in prayer, asking God to help you rest in His righteousness instead of your efforts.

My Personal Reflections

For so many years, I thought I had to “earn” approval—not just from people, but even from God. Even though I’ve learned about justification, I still struggle from time to time to accept that God has already declared me righteous, apart from anything I had done or failed to do. It was hard to let go of the idea that I have to “perform” to be loved.

But the more I study Scripture, the more I realize Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. There is nothing I can do to make me more accepted by God. This truth brings so much peace! When I feel that old mindset creeping in, I remind myself: I am justified. I am loved. I am enough—not because of me, but because of Christ.

I pray that this truth of justification sets you free from striving and allows you to live in the peace and joy that comes from knowing you are already fully accepted in Christ.

Next month, we’ll dive into Chapter Five: Approval Addict, where we’ll examine how we can break free from the need for validation from others and embrace God’s unshakable approval.

Until then soak in the truth of John Mark McMillan’s song, How He Loves Us, knowing that You are justified. You are free. You are loved.