Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-based 12-step program from Saddleback Church, inspired by Alcoholics Anonymous. It helps individuals recover from hurts, habits, and hang-ups through community support and spiritual principles, offering a faith-centered approach to healing and transformation.
The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery
The 12 Steps of Celebrate Recovery are adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, with a focus on Christian teachings. They guide individuals through surrendering to God, acknowledging struggles, and embracing spiritual growth to overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups for healing and transformation.
Step 1: Admitting Powerlessness
Step 1 of Celebrate Recovery emphasizes acknowledging powerlessness over life’s struggles and hurts. It involves surrendering the illusion of control and admitting that without God, true recovery is unattainable. This step encourages individuals to confront their inability to manage addictive behaviors or emotional pain independently, recognizing the unmanageability of their lives. By doing so, participants open themselves to the possibility of divine intervention and healing. This foundational step is about humility and honesty, allowing individuals to let go of self-reliance and embrace a dependence on God. Celebrate Recovery teaches that admitting powerlessness is not a sign of weakness but a courageous first move toward freedom and transformation. It sets the stage for the rest of the journey, fostering a willingness to seek help and guidance from a Higher Power. Through this step, individuals begin to shift their focus from self-sufficiency to reliance on God, marking the start of a spiritual and emotional awakening.
Step 2: Coming to Believe
Step 2 of Celebrate Recovery focuses on developing faith in a Higher Power’s ability to bring restoration and healing. It emphasizes the importance of trusting God to transform lives and provide the strength needed for recovery. This step encourages participants to move beyond self-reliance and embrace the belief that God’s power can overcome even the deepest hurts, habits, and hang-ups. By surrendering to this belief, individuals open themselves to spiritual awakening and the possibility of a renewed life. Celebrate Recovery teaches that this step is not about perfection but about progress, fostering a deeper reliance on God’s grace and promises. Step 2 is a cornerstone of the program, helping individuals shift their focus from their own limitations to the limitless power of their Higher Power. It is a step of hope, where participants begin to see that true healing and transformation are possible through faith and trust in God. This belief becomes the foundation for the journey ahead, empowering individuals to confront their struggles with confidence and courage.
Step 3: Making a Decision
Step 3 of Celebrate Recovery involves making a deliberate decision to turn your life over to God’s care. This step emphasizes surrendering self-will and trusting in God’s plan for healing and transformation. It is a spiritual commitment to rely on His power rather than personal control; Participants are encouraged to let go of their need to manage every aspect of their lives and instead trust in God’s faithfulness. This decision is not about perfection but about progress, as individuals learn to align their choices with God’s will. Step 3 is a cornerstone of the recovery process, as it shifts the focus from self-reliance to divine guidance. By making this decision, individuals open themselves to the possibility of radical change and freedom from the burdens of their past. Celebrate Recovery teaches that this step is both a one-time commitment and an ongoing process, requiring daily surrender and trust in God’s love and sovereignty. It is through this step that participants begin to experience the transformative power of faith in their journey toward wholeness and healing.
Step 4: Conducting a Moral Inventory
Step 4 of Celebrate Recovery involves conducting a thorough moral inventory of your life. This step requires honesty and courage as you examine past actions, attitudes, and patterns that have contributed to your pain or addiction. Participants are encouraged to write down their resentments, fears, and sexual conduct, as well as the people they have harmed. This process helps identify negative behaviors and their root causes, fostering self-awareness and accountability. By confronting these issues, individuals can begin to release the guilt and shame that often accompany them. Step 4 is not about self-condemnation but about taking responsibility for your actions and preparing to make amends. It is a crucial part of the healing journey, as it clears the way for spiritual growth and relational restoration. Celebrate Recovery emphasizes that this step is best done with guidance and support, ensuring that participants approach it prayerfully and with a willingness to change. Through this inventory, individuals take a significant step toward freedom and a deeper relationship with God.
Step 5: Admitting to God, Ourselves, and Others
Step 5 of Celebrate Recovery focuses on confession and transparency. It involves admitting the exact nature of your wrongs to God, to yourself, and to another trusted person. This step emphasizes the importance of honesty and humility, as individuals confront the reality of their sins and shortcomings. By sharing their moral inventory with someone else, participants experience liberation from the burdens of guilt and shame. This step is rooted in the biblical principle of confession, as seen in James 5:16, which encourages believers to confess their sins to one another for healing. Step 5 is not about self-condemnation but about taking responsibility for your actions and seeking accountability. It also highlights the need for humility and trust in the healing process. Through this step, individuals begin to experience the freedom that comes from living authentically and openly. Celebrate Recovery encourages participants to approach this step prayerfully, trusting that God will use it to bring deeper healing and restoration in their lives. This step is a cornerstone of the recovery journey, fostering integrity and paving the way for further spiritual growth.
Step 6: Ready to Have God Remove Defects
Step 6 of Celebrate Recovery focuses on becoming ready to let go of character defects and shortcomings. It emphasizes surrendering to God’s will and acknowledging that He is capable of transforming lives. This step is rooted in the belief that God’s power is greater than human weakness. Participants are encouraged to humbly admit their limitations and express willingness to allow God to remove their defects. The principle of humility is central here, as individuals recognize their inability to change on their own. Step 6 is not about self-improvement but about submitting to God’s plan for healing and growth. It involves a spiritual shift from self-reliance to dependence on God. Celebrate Recovery teaches that this step requires patience and trust, as transformation is a process. By surrendering their defects, participants open themselves to the freedom and empowerment that comes from living in alignment with God’s purpose. This step is a pivotal moment in the recovery journey, preparing individuals for the spiritual breakthroughs that follow in Step 7.
Step 7: Humbly Asking God to Remove Shortcomings
Step 7 of Celebrate Recovery involves humbly asking God to remove our shortcomings. This step is rooted in the belief that true transformation comes from surrendering to God’s grace and power. Participants are encouraged to approach God with humility, acknowledging their inability to change on their own. The prayer in Step 7 is not a demand but a heartfelt request, recognizing God’s sovereignty and mercy. It is based on the biblical principle that confession and repentance lead to healing and restoration. This step emphasizes the importance of letting go of pride and self-reliance, instead trusting in God’s desire to transform lives. Celebrate Recovery teaches that this step is not a one-time event but a continuous process of spiritual growth. By humbly asking God to remove their shortcomings, individuals open themselves to His transformative work, experiencing freedom from the burdens of their past. This step aligns with the program’s focus on surrendering to God’s will and living a life centered on His purpose. It is a powerful moment of vulnerability and faith, leading to deeper intimacy with God and lasting change.
Step 8: Making a List and Willing to Make Amends
Step 8 of Celebrate Recovery focuses on making a list of those we have harmed and becoming willing to make amends. This step is about taking responsibility for past actions and preparing to address the hurt caused to others. It involves reflecting on how our behaviors have impacted others and acknowledging the harm done. The process encourages participants to pray for willingness to make things right, demonstrating a commitment to personal accountability and spiritual growth. This step emphasizes the importance of humility and sincerity in mending broken relationships. Celebrate Recovery teaches that making amends is not about earning forgiveness but rather about obeying God’s command to live at peace with others. By creating a list, individuals confront their past actions and prepare to take concrete steps toward healing and restoration. This step is a crucial part of the recovery journey, as it fosters humility and accountability while paving the way for the direct amends of Step 9. It is a powerful way to demonstrate Christ-like love and restore trust in relationships.
Step 9: Making Direct Amends Where Possible
Step 9 of Celebrate Recovery involves making direct amends to those we have harmed, whenever possible. This step emphasizes taking actionable steps to repair relationships damaged by past behaviors. It requires humility, sincerity, and a willingness to seek forgiveness. Participants are encouraged to prayerfully approach each situation, ensuring that their efforts to make amends do not cause further harm. If direct amends are not feasible, alternative forms of restitution may be appropriate. This step is about demonstrating Christ-like love and integrity, aligning with biblical principles of restoration. Through this process, individuals seek to mend broken relationships and restore trust, fostering personal and spiritual growth. Making direct amends is not just about fixing past wrongs but also about living out the values of humility and forgiveness taught in Celebrate Recovery. This step is a powerful way to apply the teachings of Jesus in practical ways, leading to deeper healing and stronger, healthier relationships.