Here at
L.I.F.E. Recovery international, we do not utilize a 12 step program for
recovery. Instead, we use Dr. Mark Laaser's seven principles. Dr. Laaser has a
Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Iowa, and an M. Div. from Princeton
Theological Seminary. He has written over a dozen books, and is recognized
nationwide as a speaker. His writings have helped thousands to overcome their
battle with sexual addiction.
The first
principle for L.I.F.E. is acknowledging that our lives have become
unmanageable. We cannot hope to recover without admitting that we have a
problem. This is perhaps the most important step, as it allows us to begin our
journey.
The second
step is to believe in God, accept the grace offered through His Son Jesus
Christ, and surrender our lives and our wills to Him on a daily basis. Faith is
an important aspect of recovery, as it allows us to give ourselves up to a
higher power.
The third
step is to become aware of our own sins and weaknesses, and confess them to a
safe group of spiritual people. Group therapy is vital, as it allows us to
collaborate with others and share our experiences.
After
this, we seek accountability and growth in our character as children of God.
Owning up to our actions allows us to accept our own flaws, ask for
forgiveness, and move on in our journey to recovery.
The fifth
principle is exploring the wounds from our past, acknowledging our sinful
choices in response to those hurts, and allowing God to transform and heal our
hearts. True recovery cannot be achieved without first healing our wounds from
the past. We look to God to help us heal from these wounds, so we can be free
from them.
In
fellowship with other believers, we develop intimate relationships where we
celebrate God's transforming work in us and continue to address areas of
immaturity and weakness. This goes hand in hand with the third step, as we can
form these intimate relationships with others that are going through the same
process as us.
The final
principle of living in freedom everyday, is walking consistently with grace and
truth, carrying the message of Christ's healing to others, and pursuing a
vision of God's purpose for our lives. While the journey will never truly be
over, we can live with sexual freedom and integrity. It is important to share
our message with others, in an attempt to help them achieve the same freedom as
us.
These seven principles, as well as our statement of faith, and on-going
objectives can be found at https://www.freedomeveryday.org/index.php/about/