Why Do We Need To Admit The Exact Nature Of Our Wrongs?

Step 5 of the 12-Step program of AA asks that we admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.  It assumes that we have looked at our past behaviour and made a moral inventory of the exact nature of our wrongs.  The detail of that list shows clearly how our lives were full of every kind of wickedness and lived daily for our self-gratification.  Thankfully, when we gave our will and life over to the care of God, He forgave all our sins, and gave us a new life to live under His care and protection.

For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 TLB)

Why then do we need to admit the exact nature of our wrongs to God, ourselves, and another human being?  Confession of our sins gives us protection from the power of the evil one.  Many of us are aware that Satan uses what we have done to fill us with guilt and shame and fear of being found out.  When we admit the exact nature of our wrongs as directed by Step 5, we disarm Satan and ruin his strategy against us.  Our pride may be deflated by admission of what we have done for many years, but the truth will set us free from the bondage of wrongdoing we may still be wrestling with. 

In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away.  (Colossians 2:15 TLB)

It is wise to ask God to show us to whom we might confess the exact nature of our wrongs.   Perhaps we know of a person who has demonstrated compassion and understanding of our condition and has been willing to pray for us and for others in similar situations. As we move forward in our recovery, we may also want to arrange accountability for our future actions to that person, or to another person whom we reckon to be trustworthy.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I am forever grateful that all my sins are forgiven.  I now ask You to help me be truthful as I do a Step-5, so that Satan ceases to have power over me.  Amen

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