The Ultimate Guide to Christian Recovery Programmes for Lasting Healing
What is a Christian recovery programme?
A Christian recovery programme is basically one that acknowledges God through His Son Jesus Christ, as the true source of power and strength in overcoming our addictions and unhealthy dependencies.
The main aim of a Christian recovery programme – where there is a step for step guide with explanations and prompts to help – is to remove the unconscious blockages or barriers we have unwittingly formed over the years through life, the flesh and the world, so that we are able to properly access the power of God through humility and restored relationship with Him.
These Christian recovery programmes or groups are a safe environment where one can share openly with others who can relate to the struggles with dependencies and addictions – this is biblical, “As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].” Proverbs 27:17 (AMP.)
My experiences with Christian drug recovery programmes
My experience of Christian recovery programme groups has been support and mentorship by other people who have really experienced the feelings and emotions that I have, and have walked similar paths to mine.
For me, the fact that they seemed to be living in recovery with peace, joy and contentment was a huge motivator, and this gave me real hope. Part of keeping what I had was to give it away, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matt 5:8), and being involved in a group, there were people coming in who really wanted to find a solution to recovery from their addictions and dependencies.
I was able to share where I was at, which got me out of my own head so God could do a work in me, and God was able to reveal truths to others through my sharing.
Top Tips for starting a Christian recovery programme
I believe that having the right mindset and attitude is probably the most important aspect when going into a Christian Recovery Programme. I had a mentor who, at the first meeting I attended, said to me from the front; “Rory, you are the most important person in this room, because you are doing more for us than what we can do for you. This is a suggestive programme though; so, we suggest you take the cotton wool out of your ears and shove it in your mouth. In other words, shut up and listen.”
I laugh at this today; although we were a lot blunter in those days, the point was driven home hard for me. These people were willing to tell me how they were able to unlock their lives and allow God to relieve their dependency disorders and addiction, and it was pure wisdom on my part to keep my heart open to what they had to say, and then to listen.
The first Christian recovery group I attended in South Africa was a group called Alcoholics Victorious and was based on the twelve step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous.
When I moved away from this group’s location, I started a group with another recovering Christian friend, and it grew to 35 members before we started another in a different suburb. I found this tremendously helpful in setting a solid foundation in my recovery, as God was able to use the group to transform other’s lives as well.
Breakthrough into Recovery - £13.00/$18.00
I have a chapter in my book Breakthrough into Recovery, which explains exactly how to start a Christian recovery meeting. It has all the preambles, bible readings on addiction, suggestions and guides in different formats so that you will have clear guidance on where, how, when, with whom, etc., to start a recovery group.
Recommended Christian recovery programmes
Although there are other online groups and Christian counselling that is very good when facing other mental health issues and the like, I would highly recommend a 12-step programme approach to Christian recovery, and should there be none in your area, I suggest going to Alcoholics Anonymous or similar for other addictions.
Now, even though they speak of a God of your understanding, or a ‘higher power’, the 12-step programme is grounded in Christian principles. The only thing to realise is that there are many that attend the group who are disillusioned by God, or who simply do not know Him at all. I found this easy, as we all struggled with the same afflictions, and there have been a few who I have been able to introduce to the Lord.
To get the most out of these groups, I would suggest you look for one that is solution-based. By this I mean a group that is talking about and sharing more on how to recover, rather than the afflictions and stories of their addictions. It is important to share a bit of the history of our struggles so that others are able to identify, but I don’t believe this should take up much more than ten minutes of an hour’s meeting.
There are a few Christian groups & rehabilitation organisations (even online meetings) that one can Google, and here are a few that I have just Googled myself, although I do not know too much about them, so I would suggest praying and asking God to guide you.
However, if – for whatever reason – the group set-up does not appeal to you at present, recovery is possible, as our God is a God who is not limited by systems and traditions. Here are many bible verses about addiction and recovery.
Mark 2:27-28 emphasises that religious laws and rituals, including the Sabbath in this instance, exist to serve people's needs, rather than people being subservient to rigid rules.
Breakthrough into Recovery - £13.00/$18.00
Because of this and my heart for those not comfortable with groups, in my book Breakthrough into Recovery, I have written the programme I did that led to my recovery, in such a way that people who are sincere to be able to work through the programme on their own. There are many step-for-step guides, prompts, personal examples and worksheets you will be able to download and follow.
Ultimately, we are beyond human aid, and I found this programme helped reveal certain blockages I was totally unaware of, and then a system that allowed me to give these over to God who removed them. We are called to have an intimate relationship with God.
It is only our God through His Son Jesus Christ and the support of His Holy Spirit that can restore us to a life that is not governed or dictated by our compulsive dependencies or addictions, and this recovery programme showed me how to allow Him to.