Discovery
Book One: Steps 1,2,3

My DISCOVERY of God and His kingdom and the baby steps I took holding His hand got me sober.  I was like the man who found the treasure hidden in a field from the parable Jesus told in Matthew 13:44. It was an incredible treasure and I wanted to claim it as my own!

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.” - Matthew 13:44 

Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 of Alcoholics Anonymous cover the DISCOVERY process in a similar way. We come to understand in our hearts that we need God’s treasure and that He will restore our sanity. In our joy, we seek God’s will for our lives. The DISCOVERY in the first three Steps is life changing. We become aware that our personal resources are incredibly limited and only God is capable of meeting our every need. Only the cross of Jesus has the power over our sin that restores our relationship with God.

                                                                                                           

DECISION:
Book Two- Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7

This incredible news about the kingdom of God is a treasure, “music to our ears”.  Our DECISION is to live “in tune” with God’s beautiful rhythm, one note at a time, letting it flow over us, one day at a time. The DECISIONwe are making is to DO THE WORK planned in Steps 4-7. The Good Shepherd takes care of us and moves us forward. We write out our story and take our personal inventory (Step 4) while “He leads me beside the quiet waters”, and then “He restores my soul” when we speak our truth to God, ourselves and to others (Step 5). God promises to shepherd us all along the way. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.” - Matthew 13:44                         

We “sell out for Jesus” because we want to make room for the abundance of His Treasure!  The Shepherd is with us even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It’s hard work walking the steps of recovery up to the peaks and down in the valleys of life. As we can “keep in tune” with God’s song we remember that David knew he had God’s song written on his heart and he did not fear.

                                                                                                           

DESIRES:
Book Three- Steps 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12

Our Shepherd has prepared a table for us and has prepared us for the last stretch in our year journey with Him. Relationships are restored and we discover the kind of life that God wants to live through us. We continue to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit which frees us to make healthy choices.

We experience the DESIRES of our heart with the character, integrity and self esteem that we have always wanted.

Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow you all the days of your life!

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