Tag: The Twelve Steps to Victory

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THE TWELVE STEPS TO VICTORY™ || Step Eight || Willing to Make Amends

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 made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. — Step Eight 

Do to others as you would have them do to you. — Luke 6:31 NIV

🛤️ Victory Focus
In Step Eight, we turn our hearts toward others by becoming willing to make things right. This step is not about taking immediate action (that comes in Step Nine), but about cultivating the attitude of humility and readiness. We surrender pride, self-justification, and fear—asking God to prepare us to take full responsibility for the damage we’ve caused in our relationships. True freedom requires reconciliation, and reconciliation begins with willingness.

🪞Reflective Insight
This step often surfaces deep discomfort. Facing the wreckage we’ve caused—whether intentionally or unintentionally—requires courage and grace. Many of us have held onto bitterness, justified our actions, or lived in denial. But God does not call us to shame—He calls us to healing. Willingness is the bridge between conviction and action. We ask Him to soften our hearts and remove anything that keeps us from walking in truth and love. Healing in our relationships begins here.

🕊️ A Prayer for Step Eight

Lord Jesus, soften my heart and make me willing. Help me see others through Your eyes—those I’ve hurt and those who’ve hurt me. I lay down my defenses and excuses, and I ask You to give me courage to make things right. Create in me a clean heart. Prepare the way for reconciliation and lead me to walk it with humility and grace. In Your Name. Amen.

🖊️ Personal Reflection
Before we can make amends, we must first be honest—with ourselves and with God. Journaling is a powerful tool for that kind of heart work. As you prayerfully reflect on these prompts, allow the Holy Spirit to gently uncover anything hidden and stir a willingness within you to move forward in grace and truth. These questions aren’t about rushing to action—they’re about preparing your heart for healing.

      • Who have I hurt through my actions, words, or neglect?

      • Am I truly willing to make amends to each one on my list? If not, why?

      • What fears, resentments, or pride might be keeping me from this willingness?

      • How does Jesus’ love for me encourage me to love others—even those I’ve wronged?

🎵 Worship Reflection
As we grow willing to make amends, we must first surrender our right to stay hurt, to stay hidden, or to stay in control. True willingness begins with letting go—of pride, fear, excuses, and every burden we’ve been carrying. “Make Room” is a powerful worship invitation to do just that. Let this song lead you into a moment of open-hearted surrender, where healing can begin and the Holy Spirit can do what only He can do.

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THE TWELVE STEPS TO VICTORY™ || Step Seven|| Trusting God for Change

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.

My victory didn’t begin with breakthrough—it began with brokenness.

 

We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings, trusting that His help would lead us to victory. ~ Step Seven

When Change Feels Like Breaking

In 2004, early in my recovery journey, I wasn’t prepared for how hard—or how painful—the process of change would be, nor how long it would take.

There were so many layers that needed to be made new and clean. My victory didn’t begin with a quick breakthrough—it began with brokenness.

My Heart Had Turned to Stone

I can’t remember exactly when it happened, but sometime in 2004, God showed me a vision of my heart. It had turned to stone.

He showed me that in order for healing to take place, He had to throw my stone heart down and shatter it into pieces.

He told me this was the only way He could reshape me. The old had to be broken first before the new could be created.

It was a very painful process. Not long after this, I began a routine of getting on my face before the Lord each morning and asking Him to keep me soft and pliable in His loving hands.

Because I don’t ever want to go through that again.

I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ~ Ezekiel 36:26

Trusting God in the Unfamiliar

This was a very humbling, confusing, and lonely time.

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before I found my first Life Recovery Bible. Once I got that Bible, everything began to make sense.

Through it, I began to understand God’s promises, and I felt less alone.

God totally used the Life Recovery Bible to shape my new heart and life by His Word!

He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion. ~ Philippians 1:6

Humble Surrender

While most times we don’t even know what needs to be removed or reshaped within us until God reveals it, we can trust that as we humbly surrender to His sovereign will and purpose, that in the end, His work in us will lead to our good and His glory.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. ~ James 4:10

You Can Trust Him with the Process

Dear friend, if you are in the breaking process, know this—you are not being destroyed, you are being remade!

Trusting God for change means we must let go of what we think should happen and lean into what God knows we need.

This process to victory is one built through surrender, not striving.

A Prayer and a Promise

Friend, please pray this with me…

Lord, even when it hurts, I trust You to change me into what You want me to be. Break what needs breaking. Remove anything that hinders. Shape my heart for victory. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray! Amen.

Remember: While the process may be unfamiliar, you can trust the One who is leading you is faithful! His heart is for you!