Don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the “Well done!” of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 

Recovery is a lifelong process of spiritual progress. We will not get it overnight. But there are three things we need to do if we want to continue to mature spiritually and progress to becoming all God has planned for us to be and to do. They are:

• Stay in communication with God : He will reveal the right times to us for everything.  
  
  
• Do regular spiritual check- ups on ourselves: It is easy to get caught up in the process of recovery and forget about living life.
  
  
• Do what needs to be done to keep us moving forward: Process is progress, and we need to keep moving forward

Prayer: Just for today Lord help me to keep moving forward in recovery. 

• TIME IS IMPORTANT

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14

James 4:14-15 You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

Ephesians 5:16-17 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!  Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

• CHANGE IS IMPORTANT

We look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! 
                                          2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 We’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times; the lavish celebration prepared for us.

• OPENNESS IS IMPORTANT

Let me give you some good advice; I’m looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight: Psalms 32:8

James 5:16 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

Hebrews 4:12  God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.

Join me next week as we have a look at the Twelve Steps together.