Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction Quotes

“I believe recovery is a synonym for what the Bible calls "discipleship." That's why I believe the 12 Steps are for everyone. We all have our addictions --or what some people call "our favorite sins"-- that we continue to struggle with. That means we can all benefit from living out the principles of the 12 Steps.”
― Stephen Arterburn, Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion

“Step 10 says, We continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Self-knowledge is meant to be an ongoing process that we never stop. We should always be learning about who we are and what we are not. Eventually, something becomes clearer and more specific: as we continue to take inventory and make amends when needed, we are developing a lifestyle of honesty. We are learning to be honest with others and ourselves.

This step adds a description of what the change in us will look like. With our willingness to check on our behavior continually, we are now able to READILY admit when we are wrong. This is never easy, but it is an indicator of how honest we have been in our inventory.”
― Stephen Arterburn, Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion

“Step 3 brings us to an action step: We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

Whatever your understanding of God, that is where you begin. We all begin with some incomplete understanding of who God is, and the point is to grow in our experience of God from that point.

But notice also that this step doesn't just ask that you turn over your life. It demands you turn over your will as well. I remember, while growing up, hearing pastors tell us to turn our lives over to God. I tried that many times, all to no avail. I think, now, that the idea of turning my life over to God was too abstract. I didn't know what it meant to turn my life over (beyond becoming a missionary). But if they had urged me to turn my WILL over to God, that would have been specific. There is no way of misunderstanding what it means to turn my will, my decisions, and my choices over to God: it means a life of obedience.

Only God can restore us to sanity. And the only thing required is that we are willing to obey Him and keep our eyes on Him.”
― Stephen Arterburn, Understanding and Loving a Person with Alcohol or Drug Addiction: Biblical and Practical Wisdom to Build Empathy, Preserve Boundaries, and Show Compassion