When you reach this step you are ready to YES to service.
Principle 8: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” – Matthew 5:10
Step 12: Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1
Yield myself to God
Principle 8 sums up the Y: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words.
“If a Christian is overcome by some sin, humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that the next time it might be one of you who are in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. – Galatians 6:1-2 TLB
Example is what is important
Your walk needs to match your talk because your lifestyle reflects what you believe. Does your lifestyle show others the patterns of the world – selfishness, pride, and lust – or does it reflect the love, humility, and service of Jesus Christ?
“Arouse the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith.” – 1 Timothy 1:5, GNB
“Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18
Serve others as Jesus Christ did
When you have reached Principle 8, you are ready to pick up the “Lord’s towel,” the one with which He washed the disciples’ feet in the upper room.
“And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you..” – John 13:14-15, TLB
How You Can Say Yes
- Be an accountability partner. Look for someone in your small group who will agree to encourage and support you as you work through the principles. You agree to do the same for that person. You hold one another accountable for working an honest program.
- Be a sponsor. Sponsors are people who have worked the principles or the steps. Their job is to guide newcomers on their journey through the program, to give a gentle nudge when they are procrastinating or slow them down when they are rushing through a step. Sponsors do so by sharing their personal journey on their road to recovery.
- Be involved in Celebrate Recovery and your church. There are many opportunities for service in this recovery ministry and in your church.
Learn more at Celebrate Recovery here.