Step Nine - Making Amends

 STEP 9

In His famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that being at peace in our relationships is so important that if we are trying to worship God and know we have a problem with someone, we should go and sort out that problem first and then come back to the place of worship. 

That makes Step 9 of Alcoholics Anonymous so important for both those who want to walk in recovery and as followers of Jesus Christ.

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

Jesus said:  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  Matthew 5:23-24

And there is a great blessing attached by Jesus to our working for peace.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.  Matthew 5:9

Confessing our wrong to someone means they no longer have to carry around the lingering excess baggage of the event.  Resentments begin to disappear, and we both experience more freedom. Where we were callous and uncaring, we now find ourselves becoming more understanding and flexible.  Serenity grows as we take these steps to right wrongs and make restitution where necessary.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unending love and forgiveness.  Thank you for Jesus who died on the cross for our sins so that we could be reconciled to You.  We ask for wisdom and courage to humbly approach family members, friends, colleagues – anyone You bring to mind with whom we are currently estranged and make amends. 

Give us eyes to see each circumstance as You do, rather than with the flawed perspective of our own memories.  We ask for humility to take responsibility for our part in the events.  Where necessary, we graciously offer forgiveness as we live in gratitude of the forgiveness we I have received from you.  Help us to remember that we are dealing with the log in our own eye as compared to a splinter in the other person’s eye.

We know timing is an essential part of all this.  Give us patience and discernment to know where actions should be taken today and where we should approach someone at a better time.  Where taking action to make amends has been met with resistance we pray for grace to wait and continue to pray, trusting that You will make all things right in the right time and way.

Help us to be teachable and humble in all of this, to not simply do what’s best for ourselves, but to be wise and considerate of others.  Amen