I heard a sermon recently that struck a chord in me and I thought I would share the essence of it here. (With permission)
Step 1. Admit we are powerless over the effect of our separation from God. Romans 7:18, 19 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.7.KJV The first step to making a change is a step to admit that in and of ourselves we can do nothing.
Step 2. Believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us. Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.2.KJV Only the God of heaven and earth can restore us into His image and give us power to obtain victory over sin.
Step 3. Make a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God. Romans 12:1,2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.12.KJV This must be a DAILY decision, even a moment by moment decision.
Step 4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Lamentations 3:40 "Let us search and try our ways, And turn again to the LORD." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LAM.3.KJV Being honest with ourselves about our own shortcomings, faults and sins, is of utmost importance. If we are not honest, we cannot, will not change.
Step 5. Admit to God, to ourselves and, as appropriate, to others the exact nature of our wrongs. James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.5.KJV Notice I added the phrase, "as appropriate", It is not necessary to express every single sin you have ever committed to everyone that you meet. Jesus is the only one that you need to tell all of your sins and repent to. 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1TI.2.KJV What is appropriate is that if you have harmed someone that you go to that person, again if possible, and repent, and make amends. This will be addressed more in future steps.
Step 6. Be ready for God to remove all these defects of character. James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.4.KJV "Everything is at stake. Will the human agent cooperate with divine agencies to will and to do? If a man places his will on the side of God's will, fully surrendering self to do his will, the rubbish will be cleared from the door of the heart, the defiance of the soul will be broken down, and Jesus will enter to abide as a welcome guest. ST February 12, 1894, par. 8 https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p820.12049&index=0
Step 7. Humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings, and sins. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.1.KJV Trust in God's promise to do just as He says.
Step 8. Make a list of all persons we have harmed and be willing to make amends to them all. Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.6.KJV
Step 9. Make those amends to the best of your ability to do so, asking God for help, except when to do so would injure them or others. Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV If for whatever reason amends cannot be made, turn it over to God in prayer and ask Him how best to deal with the situation. Be earnest and honest.
Step 10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong, promptly admit it. 1 Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.10.KJV Like I stated in step 3, this is a daily choice we must make.
Step 11. Seek through continual prayer and meditation on God's Word to improve our contact with God, praying for wisdom and knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out. Colossians 3:1-3,16, 17 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/COL.3.KJV Verse 16a was the only verse that was in the original 12 steps, but when I was reading it I couldn't help adding the other verses. The other verses also go along with step 12.
Step 12. As a result of having gone through these steps, carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs. Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.6.KJV At this point a lot of people will exclaim, "Don't judge me." And they will reference Matthew 7:1, but generally they don't finish reading the section as it continues to say to first "Cast the beam out of our own eye and then we will see clearly to remove the speck out of our brothers eye." Matthew 7:1-5 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV It doesn't say don't cast out the speck, it says first fix yourself so that you can clearly see how to help your brother. This must be done in love, and following Biblical counsel as in Matthew 18:15-17 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.18.KJV
For more info on learning to walk with Jesus the audio book Steps to Christ is a great resource. https://egwwritings.org/book/b108?listen=108.7&audio=1&position=7 Hard copies or MP3 can be purchased online. (I don't receive commission) https://remnantpublications.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=steps+to+Christ
