lesson 10 – spiritual inventory 1

SPIRITUAL INVENTORY PART 1

“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life. (Psalm 139:23-24, The Message)

 

Principle 4: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

“Happy are the pure in heart.” (Matthew 5:8)

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

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

(Lamentations 3:40)

The following list gives some of our shortcomings (sins) that can prevent God from working effectively in our lives. Reading through it and searching your heart will help you get started on you inventory!

Relationship with others

“Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.” (Matthew 6:12-13, TLB)

  • Who has hurt you?
  • Against whom have you been holding a grudge?
  • Against whom are you seeking revenge?
  • Are you jealous of someone else?

(Note: The people who you name in these areas will go in column 1 of your Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 Inventory Worksheet.)

  • Who have you hurt?
  • Who have you criticized or gossiped about?
  • Have you justified you bad attitude by saying it is “their” fault?

(Note: The people who you name in these areas will go in column 5 of your Celebrate Recovery Principle 4 Inventory Worksheet.)

Priorities in life

“He will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.” (Matthew 6:33, TLB)

  • After accepting Jesus Christ, in what areas of your life are you still not putting God first?
  • What in your past is interfering with you doing God’s will? Your ambition? Pleasures? Job? Hobbies? Money? Friendships? Personal goals?

Attitude

“Get rid of all bitterness, passion and anger. No more shouting or insults. No more hateful feelings of any sort.” (Ephesians 4:31, GNB)

  • Have you always complained about your circumstances?
  • In what areas of your life are you ungrateful?
  • Have you gotten angry and easily blown up at people?
  • Have you been sarcastic?
  • What in your past is causing you fear or anxiety?

Integrity

“Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.” (Colossians 3:9, NCV)

  • In what past dealing were you dishonest?
  • Have you stolen things?
  • Have you exaggerated to make yourself look better?
  • In what areas of your past have you used false humility?
  • Have you lived one way in front of your Christian friends and another way at home or at work?

“Come, let’s talk this over! says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen sow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool!” (Isaiah 1:18, TLB)

Write About It

  1. Relationship with Others
  • Who has hurt you? (Go as far back as you can). How did they specifically hurt you?
  • Who are you holding a grudge against? (Seeking revenge?)
  • Who are you jealous of? (Past and present.) Why?
  • Who have you hurt? And how did you hurt them?
  • Who have you been critical of or gossiped about? Why?
  • How have you attempted to place the blame on someone else? (Be specific).
  • What new healthy relationships have you developed since you have been in recovery?
  1. Priorities in Life
  • What areas of your life have you been able to turn over to your Higher Power, Jesus Christ?
  • After acting on Principle 3, in what areas of your life are you still not putting God first? Why not?
  • What in your past is keeping you from seeking and following God’s will for your life?
  • Number the following list in order of your personal priorities.
    • ___career
    • ___family
    • ___church
    • ___Christ
    • ___friendships
    • ___money
    • ___ministry
    • What are your personal goals for the next ninety days? (Keep it simple!)
  1. Attitude
  • What areas in your life are you thankful for?
  • In the past, what things have you been ungrateful over?
  • What causes you to lose your temper?
  • To whom have you been sarcastic to in the past? (Give examples).
  • What in your past are you still worried about?
  • How has your attitude improved since you have been in recovery?
  1. Integrity
  • In the past, how have you exaggerated to make yourself look good? (Give examples).
  • Does your walk as a Christian match your talk? Are your actions the same at recovery meetings, church, home and work?
  • In what areas of your past have you used false humility to impress someone?
  • Have any of your past business dealings been dishonest? have you ever stolen things?
  • List the ways you have been able to get out of your denial (distorted/dishonest thinking) into God’s truth.

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