Step 8 - Put It On The List

Little by little as we walk with God and work at applying new spiritual principles to our journey, we gain new information about ourselves and how we relate to other people. 

As we prayerfully review our lives with God, He will reveal where we have caused harm, where we might owe someone some form of amends, and teach us how we can live in new ways in relationship with others. This is the principle behind Step 8:

We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Then it’s time for us to make our list.

God must work deeply in our hearts to help us figure out what’s been going on and where we need to acknowledge our need of making amends.

I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.  I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve. 

Jeremiah 17:10

It is God who knows all our hearts and what impact our interaction with others has had.  God is willing to share His wisdom and good plans with us for how to bring healing and reconciliation with others if we will consult Him and listen for His voice.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. 

Psalm 25:4-5

God invites us to live in honesty, courage, accountability, and forgiveness as we admit our mistakes, forgive those who have harmed us, and compassionately work out a plan for making necessary amends. 

We know this is a journey that often includes deep emotions related to things like trauma and that has challenges that need care and time.  We don’t want to be either too late or too early in the actions we take. 

Loving God, we know it’s always the right time to not only make our list of those we have harmed but also to become willing to see what You see and agree with You about how and when to make things right. 

We want to be willing to face how we have harmed others and be available to make things right with them in the way that You know is best for all of us. 

Help us to learn from our past mistakes and be more considerate of others.  We ask You for healing for all those with whom we need to make amends and for ourselves Encourage all of us to love and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  Amen

The first part is something we can do – make a list.  The next part – becoming willing – is a task to bring before God and allow all that’s needed in the process to be worked out in us.  Let’s do both of those parts today.