| 1 |
Admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. |
“I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.”Romans 7:15–19 (NLT) |
“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NLT) |
| 2 |
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. |
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”Philippians 2:13 (NLT) |
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) |
| 3 |
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. |
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT) |
“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:10 (NLT) |
| 4 |
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. |
“Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.”Lamentations 3:40 (NLT) |
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT) |
| 5 |
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. |
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”James 5:16 (NLT) |
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”1 John 1:9 (NLT) |
| 6 |
Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. |
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) |
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”Romans 12:2 (NLT) |
| 7 |
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. |
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”Psalm 51:10 (NLT) |
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) |
| 8 |
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. |
“Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”Luke 6:31 (NLT) |
“Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’”Luke 19:8 (NLT) |
| 9 |
Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. |
“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”Matthew 5:23–24 (NLT) |
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”Romans 12:18 (NLT) |
| 10 |
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. |
“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”Proverbs 28:13 (NLT) |
“That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.”1 Corinthians 11:28 (NLT) |
| 11 |
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. |
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:6–7 (NLT) |
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”Psalm 46:10 (NLT) |
| 12 |
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. |
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”Galatians 6:1–2 (NLT) |
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT) |