Are the 12 Steps Based on the Bible? | John Ortberg

Are the 12 Steps Based on the Bible? | John Ortberg

The 12 Steps didn't begin as a recovery program. They began as a path of Christian discipleship. In this episode of the Love Life Sober Podcast, Christy sits down with bestselling author and pastor John Ortberg for a powerful conversation about the biblical foundations of the 12 Steps, the role of surrender in spiritual transformation, and why willpower alone is never enough to create lasting change. John shares how practices like confession, self-examination, renewing your mind, habit change, and surrender are woven throughout Scripture and why the church may have more to learn from the recovery community than it realizes. If you've ever struggled to change through sheer determination, felt unsure about the 12 Steps as a Christian, or wondered why God hasn't simply removed the desire to drink, this conversation will give you hope. If You've Ever Thought... "What does surrender actually mean?" "I've asked God to take this desire away, so why hasn't He?" "How do I practice the 12 Steps as a Christian?" "Why do I keep falling back into the same habits?" This episode is for you 🩷 In This Episode, We Discuss: • The Christian origins of the 12 Steps • How the recovery movement emerged from Christian discipleship • Why surrender is the doorway to freedom • The difference between trying harder and training wisely • Why confession and self-examination matter • Renewing your mind and changing your habits • Progress over perfection • How God works through imperfect people and why growth is often slower than we expect. Links & Resources Join the June 40-Day Alcohol Fast https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast] Get John's book, Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough https://amzn.to/43fFyS1 [https://amzn.to/43fFyS1] The Aligned Conference https://www.alignedconference.org/ [https://www.alignedconference.org/] 📖 Order Christy's book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book] Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy [https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/?hl=en] Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober] Disclaimer The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Alcohol-Free Vacations: How to Travel Without Wine Stealing the Joy | Susan Larkin

Can you actually enjoy vacation without alcohol… or does wine still feel like part of the experience? In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy sits down with Susan Larkin, alcohol freedom coach, podcast host, and one of our Love Life Sober coaches and Fast Captains, for a practical, honest, and hope-filled conversation about alcohol-free vacations. Susan shares how vacations once became a trigger for drinking, from beach trips to wine country and how learning to plan ahead, stay connected to her why, and practice vacationing differently changed everything. If you’ve ever thought… “I can’t start now because I have a holiday coming up.” “Vacation won’t feel fun without wine.” Babe, this episode is for you 🩷 What You’ll Learn In This Episode • Why vacations can feel so triggering when you’re changing your relationship with alcohol • How Susan’s first alcohol-free vacation helped her build confidence • Why fixation on “when and where will I get my drinks?” is a sign to pay attention to • How to plan for alcohol-free travel before you go • Why mocktails, morning routines, and visualizing ahead can make a huge difference • How to stop romanticizing holiday drinking and play the tape forward • Why being alcohol-free is a lifestyle, not a life sentence • How community, prayer, and support help you stop shrinking back Links & Resources Join the June 40-Day Alcohol Fast https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast] Susan’s Website: https://susanlarkincoaching.com [https://susanlarkincoaching.com] Susan's AF Vacation Workshop: https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/vacation-workshop [https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/vacation-workshop] The Aligned Conference https://www.alignedconference.org/ [https://www.alignedconference.org/] 📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book] Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy [https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/?hl=en] Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober]— Come hang with us! Disclaimer The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

From Grief to Cancer to Grace: A Journey of Holding On to God | Rina Bowring

What happens when life completely falls apart… and you can no longer numb the pain? From early struggles with alcohol  to finding freedom through faith, this episode explores Christian sobriety, alcohol and anxiety, emotional healing, grief, surrender, and how to trust God during life’s hardest seasons without numbing out. In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy sits down with Rina Bowring for one of the most raw, emotional, and faith-filled conversations ever shared on the show.  Rina opens up about the seasons that tested her most: motherhood overwhelm, grief after losing her father, and eventually walking through a cancer diagnosis without returning to alcohol to cope. If you’ve ever thought… “I just want to escape this feeling.” “Wine feels like the only thing helping me cope.” “I’m scared to face my emotions without alcohol.” “I don’t know how to sit with hard emotions.” This episode is for you 🩷 In This Episode, We Discuss • How alcohol quietly became emotional coping  • The connection between anxiety, belonging, and drinking  • What surrendering alcohol actually looked like  • Walking through grief and loss without numbing out  • Facing a cancer diagnosis sober  • Practical encouragement for women navigating grief, anxiety, overwhelm, or emotional drinking. 💌 Links & Resources Join the June 40-Day Alcohol Fast https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast] Rina’s Website: https://alcoholfreedom.com.au [https://alcoholfreedom.com.au] The Aligned Conference https://www.alignedconference.org/ [https://www.alignedconference.org/] 📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book] Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy [https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/] Watch on YouTube — Come hang with us! [https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober] Sign up for the newsletter on Substack [https://christyosborne.substack.com/] Disclaimer The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

From Shame to Freedom: A Bible Teacher’s Sobriety Story | Carol McCracken

What happens when the woman leading Bible study is secretly struggling with alcohol? In this powerful episode of Love Life Sober, Christy sits down with Carol McCracken—Bible teacher, author, and podcast host—to share the honest story of how alcohol slowly became a coping mechanism during one of the hardest seasons of her life. Carol is living proof that God can meet you in the mess, redeem what feels beyond repair, and turn shame into a testimony that sets other women free. While serving in church and trying to hold everything together, Carol found herself overwhelmed by stress, parenting challenges, marriage strain, and shame. Then came the moment she could no longer hide it: flashing blue lights, a DUI arrest, and a surrender that changed everything. But this testimony is not about condemnation. It’s about grace, redemption, healing, and the God who still pursues us in the middle of our mess. If you’ve ever felt too ashamed to admit you’re struggling—or too “Christian” to have a problem with alcohol—this episode is for you 🩷 ---------------------------------------- 💭 If you’ve ever thought… “I’m supposed to have it together.” “I don’t drink every day, so maybe I’m fine.” “I’m terrified of what will happen if I stop drinking.” Then babe.. this episode is for you. 🩷 ---------------------------------------- What You’ll Learn • How alcohol quietly becomes emotional coping • Why shame and secrecy keep women stuck • What happened the night Carol hit rock bottom • How community responded when she told the truth • What healing and restoration looked like afterward ---------------------------------------- Resources & Links 🌿 Join the June 40-Day Alcohol Fast https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast] 🌐 Carol’s Website https://www.carolmccracken.com [https://www.carolmccracken.com] 📖 Christy’s Book https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book] Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy [https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/] Youtube: @LoveLifeSober [https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober] ---------------------------------------- Disclaimer The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

One Day at a Time: Breaking Free from Alcohol for Good | A Love Life Sober Testimony

Alcohol-free living, and doing whatever it takes to break the cycle of moderation are at the heart of this powerful Love Life Sober testimony. In this episode, Christy sits down with Heather Dillion—lawyer, mom of two, and Fast Captain inside the Love Life Sober community—to share what it really looks like to stop drinking one day at a time and find lasting freedom. This is what happens when you stop trying to figure out forever… and just choose today. Heather’s story is honest, relatable, and full of hope. She opens up about years of trying to manage her drinking, experimenting with breaks, and attempting moderation—only to find herself stuck in the same cycle. What followed was a journey through treatment, surrender, and ultimately, a deeper kind of freedom than she expected. This episode gently meets the woman who feels overwhelmed by the future, stuck in the cycle, and unsure if change is actually possible. If you’ve ever thought… “I’m the only one.” “I should know better by now.” “I can’t imagine life—or celebrations—without alcohol.” Babe, this episode will meet you right where you are 🩷 ---------------------------------------- What You’ll Learn In This Episode • Why so many women feel alone in their drinking—and why you’re not • What it looked like for Heather to try 30 days, then 100 days, then moderation • The moment she knew she was done with alcohol for good • How alcohol impacts the brain and why healing takes time • Why guilt and shame keep women silent (especially in church spaces) • Encouragement for early sobriety—including navigating sugar cravings • What it’s like to celebrate milestones alcohol-free and actually enjoy it • “Future-tripping” and how it keeps you stuck • Practical tools that help in the early days of living alcohol-free • Why faith-based community makes all the difference ---------------------------------------- Links & Resources Join the June 40-Day Alcohol Fast https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/june-fast] 📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book [https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book] Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy [https://www.instagram.com/lovelifesoberwithchristy/] Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLifeSober] — Come hang with us! ---------------------------------------- Disclaimer The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].