1 Realize I'm not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor" (Matthew 5:3).
2 Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to him, and that he has the power to help me recover. "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).
3 Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control. "Happy are the meek" (Matthew 5:5).
By working through the lessons and exercises found in each of the four Participant's Guides you will begin to experience the true peace and serenity you have been seeking, restore and develop stronger relationships with others and with God, and find freedom from life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. All the scriptures have been updated to the new NIV 2011 version.
John Baker is the founder of Celebrate Recovery®, a ministry started at Saddleback Church in 1991. John also served as the Pastor of Saddleback Church’s Signature Ministries and was a nationally known speaker and trainer in helping churches start Celebrate Recovery ministries. John’s writing accomplishments include Celebrate Recovery’s The Journey Begins Curriculum, Life’s Healing Choices, the NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible (general editor), and Your First Step to Celebrate Recovery. He also is the coauthor of The Celebrate Recovery Devotional and, with his son Johnny, the coauthor of Celebrate Recovery’s The Journey Continues curriculum. John is survived by his wife Cheryl, the cofounder of Celebrate Recovery, and was married for more than five decades.