Step 10

 "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

Now that we have put in the difficult work of the first nine steps of the recovery process, we are brought to step 10.  In this step we continue to take personal inventory, and promptly admit when we are wrong.  At this point in the process, if we have done these steps faithfully and humbly, then we have experienced the freedom and peace that following this process by God's leading provides in our lives.  At first we came into this very broken, in need of help from our substance abuse disorder.  By now we have gained some peace and joy in our lives from our past.  But, the truth is, we still remain broken people in need of help.  At this point in our recovery we should be in the maintenance stage, meaning we need to continue to take action, by going to meetings and staying accountable to our sponsors and mentors.  However, the truth that we live by is that we remain broken sinful people, in need of help from our Savior.  Because of the sinful nature we live by, remembering that "above all else the heart is evil" (Jere. 17:9), we are in desperate need to take daily accountability of what is going on in our lives, our thoughts, and our actions.  The scripture above is of the wisdom literature in Proverbs, and I believe this speaks volumes to what is going on at the point of step 10 in the recovery process.  By now we are beginning to make plans for our lives, we are likely living with more freedom in our lives than we ever had, but we must be mindful to stay grounded, keeping to the basics.  I am reminded by this portion of scripture that I can make all the plans in the world, but it is the Lord who will ultimately have the full direction of the steps I take in life.  The longer I go in recovery, the more I realize that my plans may be good, but the Lord's plans always have more for me.  More growth, more change, more difficulty, yet, more freedom, more peace, more joy, more abundance.  As I continue to take a daily moral inventory, admitting where I am falling short, I humbly ask the Lord to direct my steps.  Our daily moral inventory should be used as a tool that directs us off of the plans of our way, and into the steps of God's will for our lives.  Therefore, be mindful to take this necessary maintenance step each day.  This is the spiritual growth and maturity that we all desperately need in our walk following Jesus.  Today, pray and ask the Lord to guide you into His will for your life.  As you consider and reflect on the steps you are taking each day, be mindful to ask God to establish the steps He wants you to take.  Ask Him to guide those steps so that you may live in the peace and joy filled abundance that He wants for your life!  Love you all!  Praying for you and yours!  Have a blessed day, it's your choice!