Taking an Honest and Spiritual Inventory Participant's Guide 2

A Recovery Program Based on Eight Principles from the Beatitudes

John Baker

• Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9780310131410
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

The Celebrate Recovery Participant's Guides are essential tools for the personal recovery journey. In the five lessons in Guide 2: Taking an Honest and Spiritual Inventory, you will experience an in-depth look at the 4th principle in the recovery process:

4 O penly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to someone I trust. "Happy are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5: 8).

By working through the lessons and exercises found in each of the four Participant's Guides you will begin to experience the true peace and serenity you have been seeking, restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God, and find freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. All the scriptures have been updated to the new NIV 2011 version.

Lesson 10

SPIRITUAL INVENTORY PART 1

Principle 4: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

“Happy are the pure in heart.” (Matthew 5:8)

Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:40)

Think About It

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23 – 24, TLB)

The following list gives some of our additional shortcomings (sins) that can prevent God from working effectively in our lives. Reading through it and searching your heart will help you get started on your inventory!

Relationship with others

“Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.” (Matthew 6:12 – 13, TLB)

• Who has hurt you?

• Against whom have you been holding a grudge?

• Against whom are you seeking revenge?

• Are you jealous of someone else?

(Note: The people who you name in these areas will go in column 1 of your Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 Inventory Worksheet.)

• Who have you hurt?

• Who have you criticized or gossiped about?

• Have you justified your bad attitude by saying it is “their” fault?

(Note: The people who you name in these areas will go in column 5 of your Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 Inventory Worksheet.)

Priorities in life

“He will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.” (Matthew 6:33, TLB)

• After accepting Jesus Christ, in what areas of your life are you still not putting God first?

• What in your past is interfering with you doing God’s will? Your ambition? Pleasures? Job? Hobbies? Money? Friendships? Personal goals?

Attitude

“Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.” (Ephesians 4:31, GNT)

• Have you always complained about your circumstances?

• In what areas of your life are you ungrateful?

• Have you gotten angry and easily blown up at people?

• Have you been sarcastic?

• What in your past is causing you fear or anxiety?

Integrity

“Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.” (Colossians 3:9, NCV)

• In what past dealing were you dishonest?

• Have you stolen things?

• Have you exaggerated to make yourself look better?

• In what areas of your past have you used false humility?

• Have you lived one way in front of your Christian friends and another way at home or at work?

Have you memorized Isaiah 1:18 (TLB) yet?

“Come, let’s talk this over! says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!”

Write About It

1. Relationship with Others

• Who has hurt you? (Go as far back as you can). How did they specifically hurt you?

[Your Response Here]

• Who are you holding a grudge against? (Seeking revenge?)

[Your Response Here]

• Who are you jealous of? (Past and present.) Why?

[Your Response Here]

• Who have you hurt? And how did you hurt them?

[Your Response Here]

• Who have you been critical of or gossiped about? Why?

[Your Response Here]

• How have you attempted to place the blame on someon...