Principle 1. R-ealize 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.

–“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives have become unmanageable. –“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.

--“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

Principle 2. E-arnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.

–“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Step 2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

–“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

Principle 3. C-onsciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.

Step 3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

–“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Principle 4. O-penly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

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.” (Philippians 2:13)

Step 5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

–“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

Principle 5. V-oluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects.

–"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

Step 6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

–“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Step 7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Principle 6. E-valuate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.

–“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

–“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Step 8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Step 9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

–“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

Principle 7. R-eserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will.

Principle 8. Y-ield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, by both my example and my words.

–“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Step 10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

–“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Step 11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.

Step 12.Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

--“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)