The HEART of Recovery

The HEART of Recovery

By Bill A. Gaspard, Life Recovery Coach

How many times have you heard someone say, “you need to be obedient to God?’’ “Obedience is the key to life” I heard a Pastor once say. Obedience in recovery is where the real work begins, it is a journey and growth will happen. We need a starting point. We need a map. And of course we need a destination. Get ready to take a voyage with God. A couple quick questions will help us determine our destination.



Where do I see myself spiritually, emotionally, physically in three months?

In six to nine months?

In a year?

In three to five years?


Make sure you write this down and get ready to set the course. We have a destination. Now it’s time for the map. The following blogs will give scriptural and personal examples of obedience and disobedience how they apply to recovery and God’s will for us. This was groundbreaking stuff for me. Just a couple years earlier God had removed the obsession to drink alcohol from my life, nine months ago I had quit chewing tobacco, and while writing this chapter my wife and I said no more to being controlled by debt. We cut up all credit cards and started implementing baby steps towards our financial freedom according to Dave Ramsey’s book. Let me put it in another way. The king of beers was no longer a priority in my life (smashed). The idol nicotine (destroyed). The almighty dollar and the golden (debt) calf were gone forever in my mind. They did not control me anymore. God was in charge and I was so grateful. I wanted to be obedient to God in every way possible. Above all else, obedience requires heart. In recovery coaching I use the heart check. I use the acrostic H.E.A.R.T. to find out where we our in our journey of recovery. This is where the work begins. If we have a Repentant Heart, have Engaged the Word of God, fixed our Cornerstone in place then we have a solid foundation for God’s Recovery Program. The heart of the work is right here. Its time to put up the walls, one brick at a time, its time to start rebuilding the temple.



H   Honestly search your tent. This work will take you inside & outside of your tent, we will dig deep and see what we have been holding onto that must go.



E   Effective Daily Prayer. This will help us understand Gods will for our life; help us with character flaws, family, love, etc. We will use many examples of how to pray, when to pray and what the difference is between effective and non-effective prayer.



A   Accountability partner. The recovery process will be as healthy as the health of our accountability partners, surround yourself with healthy coaches and you be healthy.


R   Reconciliation & Restitution. Does God want us to make amends? This work will show us the importance of reconciliation.



T   Trusted Tithed & True. What will truly trusting in the Lord do to your heart?


About the author: Bill A. Gaspard is a Certified Christian Life Coach and Biblical Counselor, dedicated to helping God RECOVER His children through relapse prevention coaching. He is the founder of Christian Recovery Coaching- http://christianrecoverycoaching.com/


Recovery Coaching is one of the most effective ways to prevent relapse and get results in your life. A Christian Life Recovery Coach will come along side you to help you find your purpose and passion in life. We partner with our clients to unlock their God given talents and motivate them towards Christian leadership.