Welcome to the library of articles from “The James Recovery Journey.” We hope you are helped on your recovery journey or helped in understanding your loved one trapped in the grip of addiction.
We believe the Book of James from the Bible is one of the best resources for starting a faith-based recovery journey, if not the best. It is clear and also not terribly long for you to drudge through. It is a straightforward, five-chapter book that describes the journey of a person of faith and the lifestyle of a person of faith regarding actions to take and not to accept and simple mindsets to have.
Faith starts with belief, but true faith is a journey not an event!
Articles: Listed Newest to Oldest
- God Power vs. Good Power: The Bible and Day to Day Recovery Challenges (Part 1)
The Power of the Mind vs. The Empowered Mind 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 New American Standard Bible This text discusses the importance of wisdom and its implications. The passage suggests that one should seek wisdom from God if one lacks it. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, wisdom can… Read more: God Power vs. Good Power: The Bible and Day to Day Recovery Challenges (Part 1) - Navigating Recovery Through The Outside Confusion (Part 3)
The real issue of all of this is an argument about how much of what is said in the Bible you have to do and why. Some of the questioning of “why” is a distraction when the answer can so easily be because the creator of the universe said to. - Navigating Recovery Through The Outside Confusion (part 2)
So, you believed in your heart and confessed with your lips and got “saved.” You have received your get-out-of-hell-free card. Now that this has been accomplished, what is it that makes you any better than the demons while you are still here on earth? - Navigating Recovery Through The Outside Confusion (part 1)
There is the UNNECESSARILY massive argument that shows up wherever faith in Jesus and recovery comes up that is pointless and indicates a misunderstanding of things taught in both recovery and the Bible. It is two arguments that are secretly only about what things are called and have nothing to do with the concepts they have been weaponized against - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 16: Step 12)
There is a special place for people who work to help save others from destructive situations. Especially if the conditions are self-inflicted, which this verse indicates in the words “strays from the truth.” These are the last words of the Book of James in the Bible. It summarizes everything in the book to help the new believers in Christ not “stray from the truth.” The Book of James is the first written instruction to the Church as the first New Testament Book, which is why it was written… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 14: Step 11)
This is where the action we keep discussing goes to the next level of being driven by God. This is also where we deepen our connection to God. We make time to connect to Him. What a fantastic idea; if we want to connect with God, we stop and connect with Him. For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying on God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 68 This is the direction we are repeatedly directed towards, but we will now start consciously keeping connected to that flow of power and guidance consistently. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 14: Step 10)
What do I have to do after making a list of what is wrong with me, struggling with God at the wheel to repair the damage created by those things, then I went and repaired those damages. If I just stopped here, I can quickly create plenty for an entirely new amends list within minutes. The problem is bigger than the items on my list and those dates. Times and people. The problem is the habit I have of doing those things. I have illuminated those habits and taken extreme measures to repair those things, but I am still perfectly capable of creating as much destruction as I had previously. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 13: Step 9)
I will not mislead any of us about this part of the journey. This is usually a challenging and emotion-filled phase of the journey. This is also a part of the journey that many avoid, skip or completely give up because of. Some of us can even say it is the hardest thing we have done. The ways our minds try to convince us that we can avoid this formidable step… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 12: Step 8)
Why would someone volunteer to make amends to everyone on their inventory? If you are looking at a fresh inventory right now, you can pinpoint the most obvious ones you resist. There may even be times when a strong sense of “they don’t deserve amends” arises, driving further from wanting to make amends. Doesn’t that signal an area that Steps Four and Five failed? You are still focused on their part, as if it nullifies your part. If you did those steps right, you put out of your mind the wrongs others had done and looked for where you were wrong because the inventory is about what is wrong in our lives, not what is wrong with everyone else on the planet that we have ever encount… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 11: Step 7)
When this step was titled, the word “humbly” was made very prominent. Because the group that started all of this spent much time studying the Book of James, it is not hard to imagine why. In James 4:6, we are told that God gives resistance to those who are not humble but gives grace to those who are. Here we are invited to another piece of the equation. If we humble ourselves, He will lift us. When you look at the passages immediately preceding this, it is clear that the context is similar to the experience we have working on the steps. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 10: Step 6)
When you look at Step 6, two words make it worthy of being an entire step of its own. The words are “entirely ready!” The challenge with this step, as outlined in the Alcoholics Anonymous book, is that it assumes that by now, we all are in the mindset of nothing counting but thoroughness and honesty. That is why it is just a simple paragraph tied to previous sections about getting to this… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 9: Step 5)
Now that you have an honest, searching inventory and have mourned and wept, what now? If that part of the process is done right, you wrote down and analyzed a lot and end up with a long list of people you have hurt by your conduct and resentments. That was huge, and if done correctly, that was a huge victory. This is a list of prideful things that are hindering your faith walk. A list of things that are obstacles to your relationship with God. God wants to drive our recoveries and be closer to us, but we do, we believe, and we hold on to things that separate us from Him… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 8: Step 4 | Concluding Step Four)
This paragraph from the Alcoholics Anonymous book speaks specifically about the sex inventory but alludes to what comes next for the entire Fourth Step and all the inventories. That is the “…we treat sex as we would any other problem” part. If done correctly, each inventory landed on a list of issues we have. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 7: Step 4 | Fears & Sex Inventories)
Faith is often a learned behavior that evolves into a learned lifestyle. In many ways, faith is the polar opposite of fear. By “fear,” I am not speaking of a cautious feeling that makes you slightly more careful in legitimate situations. I am describing that unreasonable fear at the core of so many destructive behaviors, bad decisions, and dysfunctional feelings for all of us - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 6: Step 4 | Resentments Inventory)
Faith-Empowered Bible Verses That Can Help Support Recovery and Life Transformation Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. James 1:23-25 – Looking in the Mirror. What Kind of Person Was I? Now that you will act on your faith, you will take that look in the mirror. We all have some idea of who we think we are, but our actions bare the facts of who… Read more: The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 6: Step 4 | Resentments Inventory) - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 5: Step 4 | Introduction)
After three Steps of growth in our relationship with our creator, the time to grow the relationship has come. That is the basic idea in the Fourth Step. The passage in James 4:8 starts by saying, “Come close to God, and He will come close to you.” Then it expands on James’ expression of what that means next. The ideas are connected and are a part of the same thought. James 4:8-10… - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 4: Step 3)
Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Step Three is about submitting to God to let him help you how He wants to. The goal is to remove the key obstacle that is in the way: “PRIDE!” Humble submission is vital to the power needed for the recovery journey. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 3: Step 2)
The simple instruction is to ask God because he gives generously and gives without a sense of disapproval. It is as simple as acknowledging the area that lacks wisdom (see Step 1 Article), then asking God who is generous. There is, however, a prerequisite to asking. You cannot have doubts about what God will do when you are petitioning him. That “came to believe” is the focus of Step 2. - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 2: Step 1)
Faith-Empowered Bible Verses That Can Help Support Recovery and Life Transformation Step One of the Twelve Steps – James 4:6 – Pride vs. God Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over __________ —that our lives had become unmanageable. 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 New American Standard Bible Admitting that you… Read more: The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 2: Step 1) - The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 1: Introduction)
Faith-Empowered Bible Verses That Can Help Support Recovery and Life Transformation Is the Bible Useful for Recovery? Bible verses hold immense significance in the recovery journey, especially when considering the extensive research that highlights the critical role of faith and belief in overcoming challenges on the path to recovery. Recovery can be an uncomfortable, challenging, and arduous process, marked by moments of doubt, fear, and setbacks. Numerous studies have explored… Read more: The Bible and Recovery: Divine Guidance Through Bible Verses for Finding Sobriety and Healing… (part 1: Introduction) - The Positive Impacts of Faith on Health and Well-being: Insights from the Book of James… (Part 3)
Combining faith with other professional treatments can create a holistic approach to health and recovery. From a strictly scientific perspective, individuals can integrate their faith with evidence-based therapies, seeking guidance from both spiritual leaders and healthcare professionals to achieve extremely higher rates of positive outco… - The Positive Impacts of Faith on Health and Well-being: Insights from the Book of James… (Part 2)
The Role of Faith Communities in Promoting Health and Recovery Faith communities provide a supportive environment for individuals seeking recovery and overall well-being. They offer fellowship, encouragement, and a sense of belong… - The Positive Impacts of Faith on Health and Well-being: Insights from the Book of James… (Part 1)
Faith and the Reality of Positive Health Outcomes Faith has long been recognized as a powerful force that can transform lives and bring positive change. There are people who, for various reasons, oppose faith or faith as a part of recovery. Meanwhile, faith as a source of recovery has reportedly been proven to improve health outcomes of all kinds in treatment. Without discussion of levels of faith, devoutness, piousness, or understanding of the specific faith, just the fact of having faith has tremendously improved the outcomes of millions in recove… - From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 3)
Discovering unwavering strength and determination on the path to recovery with the guidance of the Book of James. Recovery: Fixing (Taking Responsibility and making Amends) , Willpower, and Holding Hope Revisiting the short list of reasons (out of many) from previous articles, we see that we need resilience and determination in recovery; let’s continue to dig deeper and look at how the Book of James can be a transformative resource… Read more: From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 3) - From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 2)
Discovering unwavering strength and determination on the path to recovery with the guidance of the Book of James. Recovery: Endurance, Healing Relationships, and Self-esteem Looking at the short list of reasons (out of many) from the previous article, we can see that we need resilience and determination in recovery; let’s dig a little deeper and look at how the Book of James can be a transformative resource for individuals seeking… Read more: From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 2) - From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 1)
Discovering unwavering strength and determination on the path to recovery with the guidance of the Book of James. Why Do We Need Resilience and Determination in Recovery Recovery from addictions or alcoholism requires unwavering strength and endurance. A rule is: “If you are not changed, you are the same. If you are the same, you can expect the same!” A considerable part of recovery is “change,” just that changing by… Read more: From Trials to Triumph: Building Resilience and Determination from the Book of James… (part 1) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 6)
A Journey of Faith, Transformation, and Recovery with James as Your Guide. Recovery and Having Shame and Guilt In recovery, shame and guilt are a normal and often necessary part of the process. Let’s be honest; if there is a level of addiction to something that leads one to realize they at least need to consider recovery, there are probably a few things that person should be ashamed of and… Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 6) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 5)
A Journey of Faith, Transformation, and Recovery with James as Your Guide. Bible-Based Support Groups Looking back at previous articles, I mentioned Acts 2:45-47 and James 2:15-18 as contextual texts for recovery. These passages make many serious points for recovery, but a key focus seen in both is the importance of a support system of like-minded individuals who support each other in both spiritual and physical as well as practical… Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 5) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 4)
A Journey of Faith, Transformation, and Recovery with James as Your Guide. Some Kind of “Faith in a Higher Power” in Recovery Let’s look at the general need for “faith” in recovery. By “general need for faith,” I am speaking of some “higher power” instead of the specific faith I follow. As this site is hinged on the Book of James, which was explicitly written for people who already believe… Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 4) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 3)
A Simple Yet profound way to find freedom in faith powered action! What Do I “do” When Someone Needs Recovery, and I Want to Help I remember when I was in early recovery, and later while being trained to help others in recovery, I learned that there were four options for working with others on that journey. The correct option is almost always the fourth one to most reading this. … Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 3) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 2)
A Journey of Faith, Transformation, and Recovery with James as Your Guide. Timeless Wisdom from the Book of James Has long provided Hope and Strength for People in Recovery. In Ohio, a group looking to help people overcome addiction turned to the Bible for guidance. Instead of resorting to what was the “normal” for recovery at the time, which could be best described as physical and mental torture, they studied… Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 2) - The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 1)
A Simple Yet profound way to find freedom in faith powered action! James: The Faith Journey Life Hack Could your recovery or your faith journey use a “life hack?” The Biblical Book of James is a wonderful book from the Bible for Folks in recovery. It is a New Testament book of assorted wisdom, much like the Book of Proverbs is in the Old Testament. It is also a book… Read more: The Transformative Power of Faith-Based Recovery Using the Biblical Book of James… (part 1)