Addiction Recovery – Page 4 – 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 sought through prayer and Spirit-led meditation to grow in our relationship with God, seeking to know His will and receive His power to walk in victory. —Step 11

“Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.”
—Jeremiah 33:3 (HCSB)

After walking through confession, repentance, and making amends, Step 11 invites us into something even more intimate—daily communion with the Living God. This is where the journey shifts from repair to relationship, from surviving to thriving. It’s one thing to admit our need for God; it’s another to walk with Him closely, every single day.

Deepening our connection with God doesn’t mean striving harder or doing more. It’s about slowing down and becoming more aware of His presence. The world constantly calls for our attention—but in the stillness, God speaks. Through quiet prayer and Spirit-led reflection on His Word, we learn to recognize His voice and respond in obedience.

This step is less about petitioning and more about positioning—placing ourselves before Him with a yielded heart, ready to listen. We’re not praying for our will to be done; we’re praying to know His will and to receive the strength to carry it out.

When we seek Him daily, He begins to shape our desires to align with His. Old habits lose their grip. Clarity replaces confusion. Power rises where there was once weakness. Victory becomes more than a moment—it becomes our way of life.

Take a Step Toward Victory
Set aside some time today to be still before God. No agenda. No list. Just invite Him to speak. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow in your awareness of His presence. Then listen. You might enjoy playing the instrumental worship video “Draw Near to God” by DappyTKeys in the background—it’s over four hours long, but don’t let that overwhelm you. Even a few quiet moments with peaceful worship can open your heart to God’s voice. Keep a small journal nearby to write down any thoughts, scriptures, or impressions you sense. This is how we deepen our connection with Him—one quiet moment at a time.

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 continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it, seeking victory in constant self-examination. ~ Step 10

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life. —Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT)

We’ve come a long way on this victory journey. By Step 10, we’ve faced the truth, made amends, and begun walking in freedom. But victory isn’t a destination—it’s a daily decision. Step 10 reminds us to stay honest with ourselves and God, one day at a time. This simple but powerful step protects the progress we’ve made and keeps our hearts tender and teachable.

At its core, Step 10 is a daily practice of spiritual honesty. It comes from the traditional wording: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.” In our journey toward spiritual victory, it means we remain open to correction, quick to confess, and eager to stay aligned with God’s truth. We don’t wait until we’ve drifted miles off course—we check in daily to make small course corrections, keeping our hearts in sync with the Holy Spirit.

Without ongoing self-examination, old patterns can creep back in. Resentment, fear, or pride may resurface if we’re not paying attention. But grace gives us the courage to face ourselves honestly. This isn’t about shaming ourselves—it’s about inviting the Lord to shine His gentle light into our hearts. When we respond to conviction instead of resisting it, we grow stronger in truth and steadier in grace.

Whether through journaling, prayer, or a quiet moment before bed, these questions keep our hearts soft. If something needs to be made right, we take care of it promptly. If all is well, we give thanks and rest in peace. Step 10 is less about perfection and more about staying responsive—keeping short accounts and open communication with the Lord.

Victory doesn’t come from getting everything right—it comes from staying honest and humble. When we commit to living this way, we walk in the freedom Jesus died to give us. Step 10 invites us to live with nothing hidden, hearts wide open before God, walking one honest day at a time toward lasting spiritual victory.

🕊 Step 10 Reflection: Staying Honest with God and Myself

A Simple Evening Examen for Victory

Step 1: Ask God to bring to your awareness the moment today for which you are most grateful.
✧ If you could relive one moment from today, which one would it be?
✧ When were you most able to give and receive love today?
✧ What was said or done in that moment that made it so good?
→ Breathe in the gratitude you felt and receive life again from that moment.

Step 2: Ask God to show you the moment today for which you are least grateful.
✧ When were you least able to give and receive love?
✧ What was said or done that made that moment difficult?
✧ How did it feel—emotionally, physically, spiritually?
→ Take deep breaths and let God’s love meet you there, just as you are.

Step 3: Offer it all to God.
✧ Thank Him for walking with you through it all.
✧ Ask for grace where you need healing, courage, or change.
✧ If helpful, share your reflections with a trusted friend or sponsor.

I know I’ve shared this song earlier this year, but it still captures the cry of Step 10 better than anything else I’ve found. I pray it speaks even deeper to your heart this time around. Be blessed! ❤️