Foreword: Robert S. McGee

Preface

Acknowledgments

Have I Been Religiously Abused?

What Is Religious Abuse?

A Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Four Personal Accounts of Religious Abuse

Who Will Benefit from Recovering from Religious Abuse?

A New Life of Spiritual Freedom Awaits You

How to Benefit Most from Recovering from Religious Abuse

 

The 11 Steps to Recovering from Religious Abuse

 

A New Beginning: Introductory Week

Day 1: Sunday—You Have to Want It

Day 2: Monday—Still Living in Denial?

Day 3: Tuesday—You’ve Had Dark Times

Day 4: Wednesday—Slip Sliding Away

Day 5: Thursday—The Negative Power of Self-Pity

Day 6: Friday—Progress, Not Perfection

Day 7: Saturday—A Constant Source for Guidance

 

Step 1: Week Two

Day 8: Sunday—Introduction

Day 9: Monday—Pruning Produces a Better Person

Day 10: Tuesday—Rich in the World’s Eyes

Day 11: Wednesday—When Dysfunction Becomes a Problem

Day 12: Thursday—The Power of Denial

Day 13: Friday—Injured Relationships

Day 14: Saturday—It’s Abuse—Plain and Simple

 

Step 2: Week Three

Day 15: Sunday—Introduction

Day 16: Monday—Tired of Self-Defeating Behavior?

Day 17: Tuesday—Driving in a Cul-de-sac

Day 18: Wednesday—God Has Heard It All

Day 19: Thursday—Your State of Mind

Day 20: Friday—Seeking the Kingdom

Day 21: Saturday—Changing Your Will

 

Step 3: Week Four

Day 22: Sunday—Introduction

Day 23: Monday—God Is There—Period!

Day 24: Tuesday—Repairing Your Relationship with God

Day 25: Wednesday—Who God Really Is

Day 26: Thursday—Blaming Someone Else

Day 27: Friday—Crisis Always Produces Change

Day 28: Saturday—Are You Talking to God or Talking Back?

 

Step 4: Week Five

Day 29: Sunday—Introduction

Day 30: Monday—Flawed Thinking Prevents Recovery

Day 31: Tuesday—God Wants a Relationship

Day 32: Wednesday—When Fear Consumes You

Day 33: Thursday—Not a Cosmic Blessing Machine

Day 34: Friday—It Doesn’t Have to Be

Day 35: Saturday—Justifying the Means

 

Step 5: Week Six

Day 36: Sunday—Introduction

Day 37: Monday—No Place to Go but Up

Day 38: Tuesday—When Praying Was Easy

Day 39: Wednesday—Losing Your Sense of Belonging

Day 40: Thursday—Seeing God’s Hand

Day 41: Friday—Becoming Reconciliatory

Day 42: Saturday—Making Restitution

 

Step 6: Week Seven

Day 43: Sunday—Introduction

Day 44: Monday—Walking Moment by Moment

Day 45: Tuesday—Becoming Who You Really Are

Day 46: Wednesday—Pride Rears Its Ugly Head

Day 47: Thursday—The Spirit of Self-Vindication

Day 48: Friday—An Abusive Mindset

Day 49: Saturday—Self-Vindication Doesn’t Work

 

Step 7: Week Eight

Day 50: Sunday—Introduction

Day 51: Monday—Embracing Your Pain

Day 52: Tuesday—Review Your Written Account

Day 53: Wednesday—Admitting Your Wrong Behavior

Day 54: Thursday—You Are Still Responsible

Day 55: Friday—Scrupulous Honesty

Day 56: Saturday—Making Progress in Your Recovery

 

Step 8: Week Nine

Day 57: Sunday—Introduction

Day 58: Monday—The Linchpin to Recovery

Day 59: Tuesday—Who to Trust

Day 60: Wednesday—Finding a Safe Person

Day 61: Thursday—Breaking Away from Guilt

Day 62: Friday—You Must Come Clean

Day 63: Saturday—An Emotional Tenderizer

 

Step 9: Week Ten

Day 64: Sunday—Introduction

Day 65: Monday—Adversity Makes You Stronger

Day 66: Tuesday—Your Pain Has Value

Day 67: Wednesday—Purpose behind the Pain

Day 68: Thursday—Setting Yourself Free

Day 69: Friday—Forgiving Your Abuser

Day 70: Saturday—As We Forgive Others

 

Step 10: Week Eleven

Day 71: Sunday—Introduction

Day 72: Monday—Faith or Sentimental Drivel?

Day 73: Tuesday—The Way We Were

Day 74: Wednesday—As Good as It Gets?

Day 75: Thursday—As He Sees Fit

Day 76: Friday—Things Didn’t Go Well

Day 77: Saturday—Renewing Your Mind

 

Step 11: Week Twelve

Day 78: Sunday—Introduction

Day 79: Monday—Witnessing the Right Way

Day 80: Tuesday—Love for One Another

Day 81: Wednesday—Accepting People

Day 82: Thursday—Wisdom Takes Time

Day 83: Friday—Your Life Is a Witness

Day 84: Saturday—You’ll Know Them by Their Love

 

A New Life: Concluding Week

Day 85: Sunday—Introduction

Day 86: Monday—Be Exceptional in Ordinary Things

Day 87: Tuesday—God Is in Control

Day 88: Wednesday—Value beyond Yourself

Day 89: Thursday—Keeping Your Eyes Open

Day 90: Friday—When You Regress

Day 91: Saturday—What’s Next?

 

Moving Forward