8 Beatitudes, step work ✝️

MTSober · August 16, 2025, 10:54pm

I guess, it’s time to just share these ideas.

Principle 1: Realize I am not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.

Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

Before we can take the first step of our recovery, we must first face and admit our denial. You can’t heal a wound by saying it is not there."

The acrostic for DENIAL spells out what can happen if we do not face it.

Disables our feelings.
By repressing our feelings we freeze our emotions. Understanding and feeling our feelings, is freedom.

Energy Lost
A side effect of our denial is anxiety. Anxiety causes us to waste energy running from our past and worrying about dreading the future. It is only in the present, today, where positive changes occur.

Negates growth
We are “as sick as our secrets.” We cannot grow in recovery until we are ready to step out of our denial into the truth.

Isolates us from God
God’s light shines on the truth. Our denial keeps us in the dark.

Alienates us from our relationships
Denial tells us we are getting away with it. We think no one knows- but they do.
What is the answer?

Lengthens the pain
We have the false belief that denial protects us from our pain. In reality, denial allows our pain to fester and grow and turn into shame and guilt.

Accept the first principle of recovery. Step out of denial. Step into your Higher powers unconditional love and grace.

To ponder,

What areas of your life do you have power (control) over? Be specific.
What areas of your life are out of your control, unmanageable?
How do you think taking the first step will help you?
As a child, what coping skills did you use to get attention or to protect yourself?
In your family of origin, what was the family secret that everyone was trying to protect?
How do you handle pain and disappointment?
How can you begin to address your denial?
In what areas of your life are now beginning to face reality and break the effects of denial.
Are you starting to develop a support team?

These ideas, are in the Celebrate Recovery work book, part 1, called Stepping out of denial into God’s grace

It’s 4 books long, 8 steps all based on the 8 Beatitudes of Jesus Christ.

I just wanted to share this, maybe it might help someone, or give an idea, or just something to ponder over as we continue our sober journey.

Will I post part 2? Who knows. But it’s Saturday, a lot of new people here. Could give an opportunity for someone to just ponder.

All in all, In Jesus name, thank you for this opportunity and guidance.

…

Honestly, this song just hits so hard and is perfect for those who are doing step work, or just starting. Brings me to tears, sometimes.

I know what desperation is, in fighting the chain by yourself..

I will send out an army
To find you in the middle of the darkest night, it’s true
I will rescue you
I will never stop marching
To reach you in the middle of the hardest fight, it’s true

Cjp · August 17, 2025, 3:42am

Thanks for sharing. I love that we all share whats working (and not working) for our recoveries and we can learn from others here. I appreciate your share and that song took me back to some dark days before i found alcoholics anonymous. I truly believe a miracle happened in my life when i hit that point of desperation and blindly asked for help. So very greatful for thise who led the way

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 4:07am

I just felt the need to do it, to copy write this out.
So many new people joining, looking, reading.
Really just is an idea concept.

What sound?

Desperation is such a deep word in context, im glad the miracle came. Glad you’re here. Glad you’re… free.

This week was me revisiting the beginning, and i cant stress enough about just being open to that deep feeling of both desperation and brokeness.

Its such a deep feeling. That hopelessness in addiction.

I was lucky, as you read, that a miracle did come, in that DUI post. The drinking washed away.

But, still.

Brokeness, and now me just finding God, Jesus.

Sobriety is great, but it doesn’t have all the answers. Me truly letting go and finding a deeper level with God, was what I needed most.

Just that deep let go.

Im still working on it, but, in time with His grace, I can move forward.

Cjp · August 17, 2025, 4:35am

There is hope.

I meant to say song but wrote sound oops. Will edit

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 4:41am

I thought so, but wasn’t sure.
The song just… she is just anointed.

Are you a believer?

Butterflymoonwoman · August 17, 2025, 1:30pm

What an amazing post u wrote! I really liked the thought provoking questions. And I like how they word step 1… that they added the words “compulsive behaviours” into it as well. Even though i no longer use drugs and drink, I still have some compulsive behaviours that cause me distress. Ive always related the 12 steps to my drug addiction and i guess I really never thought of using them for compulisve behaviours. I do pray to God daily but theres still a part of me that likes to control the outcome or control the situation. I have to learn to completely let go and let God. To trust God fully in His plan for me.
Im going to ponder those questions and how they relate to my compulsive behaviours. Maybe start working Step 1 on those areas.
Id like if u posted Part 2 The book sounds interesting!

JVKE · August 17, 2025, 2:28pm

I used to really enjoy that class, but as time went on I realized that I enjoyed 12 step meetings more. The workbook is great though, made me really think, good stuff.

thanks for your share @MTSober

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 4:34pm

Thats interesting, because, that also came out to me as well.

Yeah, one thing I had come to understand is when I was in my worst and was truly opened to God for change, change came better than expected.

So, I thought, what if i did that all the time?

And, in a time of joy, just show gratitude and humbleness.

Well, try too. Its all a walk with Jeusus, the prince of peace.

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 5:06pm

Ok, I will.

Sometime tonight, ill have time.

Butterflymoonwoman · August 17, 2025, 5:08pm

Yes!! Absolutely. I remember an early morning in Dec 2021, standing at the bus in the middle of winter, when i fully accepted God into my life. I just gave everything to Him, the hurt and pain, my addictions, my entire life… everything. God worked miracles. He did for me what I couldnt do on my own. February 13 2022 is my clean date. He faithful was at that door, knocking, just waiting for me to open it. I owe God my life. He is SO good!! Brings tears to my eyes

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 5:21pm

How quickly he broke the chains in your life.

Thank you for your openness, its truly great to hear what God has done, and how he worked in you. To go back to the beginning, he was always there. Even before that, he was there waiting for your heart to return.

Not just in your strength, but in your weakness.

Jesus always left the door open, even with food, a chair ar the table just for you, with no judgement of your past. Only conviction for your future.

And, he will always be there, in your best days, in your worst. Guiding you, caring for you, showing you.

When things don’t make sense, thats okay, for we dont understand everything, and sometimes we feel like we know what is best.

But, he is ever faithful.

Butterflymoonwoman · August 17, 2025, 5:40pm

Yes! He truly is!! Its weird bcuz i grew up christian, got baptized, did confirmation, all that. But at 15 mental health stuff creeped in and so did the addictions. Idk if i stopped believing in God, or of I just felt undeserving of His love. Not sure. But i began to distance myself from Him. For 22 years i lead a life of destruction, in the sex trade, hurting myself and others, mentally unwell. Looking back to all that, i saw God working in my life all along. I should be missing or dead… but Im not. Alot of things happened that didnt. That was God working, being faithful

Ill tell u a story if u dont mind. So all thru my addiction, i wore this gold cross around my neck. 5 years into my abusive relationship with my ex, he went to grab my neck one night, but i backed up and he caught my chain and tore it off my neck. It went flying. Everything happened so fast and I didnt know where it went. All I could think about in the moment was my cross. My first thought oddly enough wasnt even my safety, it was finding my necklace. It felt like it was the only piece of God I had. Some how, some way i had the urge to get down and look under this dresser and low and behold, I saw it!! It was broken obviously. But i grabbed it and ran out of the house with no shoes on, practically unscathed. I never wore that necklace again as i couldn’t afford to fix it.
So years go by… probably like 10 years. Christmas 2021 (after I had given my life to God at that bus stop), i received a gift from my mom. It was my necklace that had been repaired. I didnt ask for it, didnt even know where she had it! I must’ve given it to her at some point during those years in addiction. It was like God was right there. That cross (God) saved me many times from overdoses, my near death experiences, being drugged, held hostage, from going missing when I swore there were times I would. God does great things.

The plan God has for us is GREATER then the plans we have for ourselves. We tend to think in small terms. God has BIG plans for us all.

Anyway, long post lol But its nice to chat with someone about God. I dont get this chance very often.

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 5:50pm

That is such a sad story, i’m sorry to hear you had to go through all that trauma and pain. All those terrible moments.

And, thank your sharing it, its brave to be open.

I’m glad you’re herw, if you ever want to share or talk about Jesus and God, i’ll be around. I won’t leave these threads are always open to talk, about it all.

Thats healing in Jesus, to connect.

For where 2 or more are gathered under Jesus Christ, that is also church.

For all things repair in God, while it may hurt still, or days we drift in our past, he heals us and lets us know our future is better than our past.

A chair sits for us to sit and dine with the most high.

With love, with joy and care.

This thread really is about healing with our Lord, the King of all kings.

MTSober · August 17, 2025, 11:37pm

It is, i never thought I would be in this. But, working the steps, finding Grace and just really diving deep. These questions in all these books just hit ao hard.

Then the coming to Jesus, I can honestly say, I just never thought I would.

Anyways, i’ll be posting part two here on it later tonight. I have a space/time for it.

MTSober · August 18, 2025, 1:15am

@Butterflymoonwoman

Part II

I kind of answered 2 questions, so its there. I’ve been working on the answers a lot. Most of them God has changed within’ me, in His healing, i found difference and deeper realizations. I’m not to quick to anger anymore, my big addictions are non.

At Celebrate Recovery, The Church, Talking and joining the Church community as well as a few youtube channels.

Remember, no matter what, we all need connection as we journey through our sobriety.

As always, I just post this to give people ideas, something to ponder.

Thank you Jesus, for giving me this opportunity, for I heal with others, in Your name.

Lets begin…

List some of the ways that your pride has stopped you from asking for and getting the help you need yo overcome your hurts, hang-ups, and habits.
What in your past has caused you to have the “if onlys”?
“If only” I had stopped __________ years ago.
“If only” ___________ hadn’t left me.
Instead of worrying about things that we cannot control, we need to focus on what God can do in our lives. What are you worrying about? Why?
In what ways have you tried to escape your past pain? Be specific.

I tried to eacape my past pain by
Drinking, gambling, sex, porn, lust, Run away, Push away, Hurt others mentally, control, attempt to just not care about anything, self isolate, build walls.

How has holding on to your anger and resentments affected you?

I turned to hate.
I pushed away.
I try to do it myself and let no one in.
Or I quit, quickly.
Oh, I also used to just shut down on people completely. Not talk anything out.
Which all caused hurt to others

Do you believe loneliness is a choice? Why or why not? How has your denial isolated you from your important relationships.
Describe the emptiness you feel and some new ways you are finding to fill it.
Selfishness is at the heart of most problems between people. In what areas of your life have you been selfish?
Separation from God can feel very real, but it is never permanent. What can you do to get closer to God?

That ends this part of the work book, I will post the next parts sometime next week.

Thank you for reading and hope you have a good week, to the believers and non believers, to everyone.

Lastly if anyone wants me to @ them for updates let me know.

…

Butterflymoonwoman · August 18, 2025, 1:46pm

Thank you SO much for taking the time to post this last night. I will definitly take time to go thru it/comment today when I have a few moments to really absorb what uv written Thank u friend for doing this!

MTSober · August 18, 2025, 1:49pm

Anytime.

JVKE · August 18, 2025, 2:20pm

Never thought i’d go back either

I still don’t do church instead I do 12 step meetings

Butterflymoonwoman · August 20, 2025, 9:45pm

I have been thinking about ur post since I read it. Theres so much information in it. I tried to answer the questions for myself. Some were harder to answer than others. But i think for me the overall message is to let go of control and give it all to God. I have no power over people, places, things, or outcomes. My first instinct is to worry about it and then try to control what I can to get a desired outcome. But God only knows what is actually best for me. I also find that when i have expectations of people and situations, i usually get disappointed. But when I let God run the show, my day goes smoothly. I tried to answer the questions with my first thoughts:

Embarrassment and worry about being “red flagged” on my file at the Dr, has prevented me from getting the help I need. Ive seen some professionals many years ago, was truthful about my history/past, and then the “red flags” popped up and I was judged and questioned about things. So im nervous about telling professionals my history now. Even after 11+ years, Ive never sought help for the abuse I endured or things Ive experienced while doing sex work and I dont plan on seeking help for it bcuz of this reason. I dont look like what ive been thru lol so they may look at me differently if I tell the truth about my past.
If only I didnt have addiction issues, where would I be in my life today? Would I have a house? Would I be debt free? Etc.
I worry about my health, worry about dying bcuz then who would care for my son, worry about my husbands health, worry about my son and his life expectancy (he has a brainstem tumor), worry about my sons safety when hes not with me (bullying at school etc), worry about him falling behind in school.
4.. Ive tried to escape past pain by self harming (drugs, cutting, sex, drinking, sex work, using food for the wrong reasons), pushing people away, not caring about anything
5.. I self harmed alot due to anger/resentment. I said hurtful things to others.
Yes bcuz there are always opportunites to connect with others if I choose to. Plus God is always with me. I just have to invite Him in.
I used to feel an empty void inside of me that I was trying to fill with outside sources to make myself feel better. Now, i know that i have to fill that void with God. God is the only thing that can cure that feeling of emptiness.
I used to never consider others feelings. Id do what I want, when I wanted. This caused alot of hurt. I lied, stole, robbed others, and provided services for money to support my habit. In the past I didnt care that this person had a family, kids, etc that I was interfering with. To me this felt extremely selfish of me.
Attend my online sermon from Elevation Church every Sunday. I enjoy that. Listen to worship music. Pray daily. Give thanks. Talk to others about God.

Lots to think about And what stood out to me the most is about worry and when I worry, im not trusting in God. Having faith is not living in fear. I want to work on that.

Thank u for sharing some of ur answers also! I appreciate ur openness

MTSober · August 21, 2025, 12:09am

You’re appreciated, truly.

I’m humbled that you answered them and wrote them down, there will always be a space to be.

I know, ill hit a moment when i say a few more things, but, at the end of the day, It is God. He will go beyond all things a human can do.

In Jesus mighty name