Spiritual Growth – Page 22 – 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.

In MY VICTORY VERSES, we will explore key Bible verses that have shaped my life recovery journey since 2005. After sharing how these verses impacted me, we will dive into their meaning and how they bring lasting victory. This column publishes on the 3rd Friday of each month in 2025.

Recovery is a journey, not a destination, and along the way, certain scriptures have been my guiding lights. Philippians 3:12-14 is one of those verses that has continually brought me back to the truth of pressing forward in faith:

“I haven’t yet reached the fullness of victory, and I haven’t achieved perfection, but I press on, determined to take hold of the purpose for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me. I don’t let myself dwell on what’s behind; instead, I focus on what lies ahead. I press forward with all my heart toward the goal, striving for the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. Victory is mine as I keep my eyes on Him!” — Philippians 3:12-14 (My personal confession)

In the very early days of my addiction recovery, God gave me this scripture to hold onto. These were days where I was so overwhelmed with thoughts and memories of all the terrible mistakes I had made and the pain and heartache I had brought on my marriage and family. At that time, it seemed like I was never going to get through those dark days and have a happy life again.

By meditating on and confessing the verses above, God saved me from the downward spiral of lies and pointed me to the future victory He had in store for me. It didn’t come easily or quickly. I had to be intentional with my spiritual practices every day, sometimes multiple times per day. It took dedication to transform my mind with the Word of God, which allowed me to forget the past and push toward the wonderful future that God was calling me to.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed today, I encourage you to take small, intentional steps like I did—starting with meditating on God’s promises. There were many days and years when I would lay down with my 3×5 card in hand and recite scripture confessions over and over in my mind before sleeping. I would take my cards with me everywhere I went. They were posted on my car dash, on the bathroom mirror, kitchen counters, and refrigerator. Only with complete immersion in scripture will our minds be fully renewed.

We must not let anything take our eyes off our goal of being all Christ died for us to be. We must lay aside any and everything that is harmful and can distract us from living our life for Christ.

When we get discouraged trying to live the perfect Christian life, we must always remember: if we are frustrated, we are likely trying to do it in our own power. We can never do what Christ wants us to do without the power of the Holy Spirit helping us.

Jesus lovingly invites us to leave our painful past behind. He calls us to grow forward in a life of faith and obedience, stepping into a victorious future with Him!

What areas of your life do you need to press forward in today? Ask God for His strength to leave the past behind and step into the victorious future He has for you.

Take some time to soak in the blessings of Hillsong United’s timeless song: “Oceans.” This song has brought so much healing to me over the years. It beautifully echoes the call to step out in faith, trusting Jesus to lead us through the unknown into victory.