CR Step Study Lesson 9 – Inventory

Lesson 9 Principle & Step:

Principle 4:  Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.  Happy are the pure in heart.  Matthew 5:8

Step 4:  We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.  Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.  Lamentations 3:40

Lesson 9 – Highlights:

An effective inventory in divided into five sections:

1. Person – this section represents the person/object you have unresolved feelings toward, normally resentment typically the result of unexpressed fear or anger.
2. Cause – this section represents the specific action that was done to or toward you inducing hurt feelings.
3. Effects – this section represents how the hurtful action has affected you and your course of life. List past and ongoing effects.
4. Damage – this section represents the basic instincts that became injured as a result of the hurtful action against you.
   • Social – broken relationships, gossip, bad-mouthing
   • Security – physical or financial safety and or stability
   • Sexual – damaged intimacy and or relationship
5. My Part – this section represents your role in the hurtful actions, in another words, What part of my bad feelings against _ _ _ _ _ is my responsibility? Include anyone whom you have hurt and how you have hurt them.

It is extremely important that you know that NO matter how you have been hurt or how bad you have hurt someone God wants to forgive and restore you.

It is also crucial to understand that if you were in an abusive relationship, especially as a child, you can great PEACE and FREEDOM in this part of the inventory.  When you visibly see that you had NO part and therefore have NO responsibility for the root cause of the resentment you can LET IT GO!  Meaning by writing none or not guilty you can begin to be set yourself free from the misplaced guilt and shame.

I cannot stress the importance to BALANCE the scale on your inventory.  This is a time of deep reflection on both the positive and negative events in your life.  You are going to feel an array of emotions so balancing the scale helps to maintain perspective.  To help you balance your inventory use the following scriptures to support possible emotions that arise.

Emotion & Supporting Positive Scripture       

• Helplessness – For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.  Philippians 2:13
• Dwelling on the past – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here!  2 Corinthians 5:17
• Wanting – And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 4:19
• Loneliness – Jesus said, …I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:20
• Oppression – The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9 
• Fear & Doubt – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9
• Melancholy – This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24
• Worry – Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  1 Peter 5:7

Sample Inventory Worksheet

For me, the inventory exercise was truly liberating.  Click on my podcast below and hear how the inventory process gave me peace and freedom from my past.  I pray that you experience the blessings that I have with Step 9.

How has the inventory process impacted you?  Where you able to release and baggage from the past?  If so, would you like to share?  Leave a comment below.

Recovery is not meant to be a solo journey.  There is power in number so I strongly recommend that you find a Celebrate Recovery group in your area.  To find one near you click here.  Remember… JOY is a choice, so choose well!