Step 10: Trudging the Road of Sanctification

On a practical level the 10th step is really a way to measure our day as we go through our day. Here are some things I have found through working the steps to be helpful. We watch how we are thinking and acting towards others on a daily basis. Are we being selfish, inconsiderate, dishonest, resentful or fearful? When we are not if we are we should go into a time of prayer right there and ask God to remove this thought, attitude, or behavior from us. Sometimes it is helpful to discuss this with a sponsor, mentor, or friend. If we have harmed anyone we then go about making it right. At this stage of the game a simple apology will probably suffice provided we are cleaning up our mess on a daily basis. Then we once again would be Wise to turn to God again in prayer and ask whom we could help. This simple process is adapted from the original direction for the 12 steps and goes something like this.

Watch yourself move towards Sin.

Ask God to remove this thought, attitude, or behavior from us.

Discuss it with someone we trust (focusing on where we are at fault)

Make amends if we have harmed anyone

Ask God to direct us towards whom we can help.

The 10th step is not something we do at the end of the day as is popular in some 12 step groups. The 10th step is really just a new way of thinking about, and reacting to life. If we begin to operate in this way we will begin to do it naturally.

Finally, I think that it is important to note that most of us do not fall back into our sin addictions over the big catastrophes in life. When someone dies, or we get sick, or lose a job most of us turn to the Lord even more so. What leads most of us into our addiction is the continual ignoring of small issues. When I lie to you I don’t clean it up I just sweep it under the rug. When I don’t do what I am supposed to; when I cover things up. When I have made a commitment and I am supposed to be there and I’m not. I make an excuse rather than confess I was wrong. These things pile up and the continual rejection of the reality of our wickedness lulls us into a sleep of complacency which inevitably leads to a relapse in behavior. If we want to get free of our self will we will continually need to seek his Face and lean into life continually making mistakes, and admitting to them when we harm others. That is what the 10th step is about