The Twelve Steps of Life Recovery are a methodical way of applying Romans 12:2 to our lives: 

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (NKJV)

Critics and skeptics have complained that we only need one step - Jesus. And I agree. But in Life Recovery, thoroughness and honesty are our necessary aims. If you have been frustrated with your progress along the spiritual path, give these steps an honest effort and you may be surprised.

Of course, it's always best to do them with someone who has already practiced them in his or her life. So, if you need some guidance, get in touch and perhaps I can help. 

(The verses accompanying each step are by no means exhaustive. I had to keep only a few because of space.) 

The Twelve Steps of Life Recovery

And Related Bible Verses:

1. We admitted that we were powerless over our problems and that our lives had become unmanageable. 

(Psalm 6:2-4, 31:9-10, 38:1-9, 44:15-16, 72:12-13, Matthew 5:3, 9:36, Mark 4:35-41, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 7:8-25, John 8:31-36, John 12:25, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Ephesians 2:1-2, 2 Peter 2:`19)

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 

(Matthew 5:4, 12:18-21, Mark 9:23-24, Luke 13:10-13, John 6:63, John 12:46, John 14:1, John 20:29, Psalm 18:1-3, Psalm 142, Philippians 2:13, Romans 4:8-6, Ephesians 1:6-8, Colossians 1:21-22, Hebrews 11:1-10)

3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. 

(Romans 12:1, Psalm 3:5-6, Psalm 23, Psalm 91:1-4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 5:5, 11:28-30, 16:21-26, Mark 10:14-26, Ephesians 2:8-9, James 4:7-10)

4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

(Lamentations 3:40, Matthew 5:8, 7:1-5, 23:23-28, Luke 12:1-6, Romans 13:11-14, 1 Corinthians 4:19-20, 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, Galatians 6:3-5, Proverbs 5:3-6, Proverbs 16:2-3)

5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 

(Luke 15:17-20, Acts 19:18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Hebrews 4:12-16, James 5:16, 1 John 1:2-9, Psalm 32:1-5, Psalm 51:1-3, Proverbs 28:13-14)

6. We were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character.

(Matthew 5:6, Romans 6:5-12, Ephesians 4:17-23, Philippians 3:12-14, Colossians 3:5-8, 1 Peter 1:13-16, James 4:10, 1 John 4:18, Revelation 3:19-20, Psalm 119:28-40) 

7. We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. 

(Matthew 18:4, Luke 18:9-14, Acts 3:19, Hebrews 12:5-11, 1 Peter 5:6-7, 1 John 1:9, 5:13-15, Psalm 32:6-8, Psalm 37:23-24)

8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 

(Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 6:31-38, Luke 19:8, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Colossians 3:12-15, 2 Timothy 1:7, James 4:11-12, 1 John 3:10-20)

9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 

(Matthew 5:6-9,23-24, Luke 19:1-10, Romans 15:2, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 4:5-6, Philemon, 1 Peter 2:21-25, Psalm 51:14-17, Proverbs 16:20-24)

10. We continued to take personally inventory, and when we we’re wrong, promptly admitted it. 

(Mark 14:38, Romans 5:3-6, 12:3, 1 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-22, 2 Timothy 2:1-7, Hebrews 2:1-3, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 85:8-9, Psalm 103:8-18)

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry it out. 

(Isaiah 40:28-31, Matthew 6:5-13, John 4:13-14, John 10:27, John 14:12-21, John 16:13, 23-37, Romans 8:26-28, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 4:2, Philippians 4:6-9, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Titus 3:1-7, Psalm 84:5-12, Psalm 127:1-2)

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. 

(Isaiah 61:1-3, Mark 5:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, John 15:4-11, John 17:3, John 17:18, 1 Corinthians 9:22-27, 15:10, 1 Timothy 1:12-16, Titus 3:3-7, Galatians 6:1, 1 Peter 4:1-5, Psalm 92:1-4, Psalm 96:1-2, Proverbs 31:26-31, Revelation 21:5)