Milestones: Remembering How Far You’ve Come
Why does it help to mark milestones in recovery?
Because forgetting your progress is what pulls you back. The Israelites, freed from Egypt, repeatedly longed to return to slavery whenever fear hit, which is why God told them in Exodus 16:32 to preserve manna as a lasting reminder of His faithfulness. Twelve step groups use sobriety coins the same way. Sin is your modern Egypt, and a marker keeps you facing forward.
Milestones have been used for centuries, often used to indicate the progression someone has made.
For leaders wondering where to begin, start a Conquer Group at your church is a good resource.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a milestone is a significant point in development. The word “milestone” itself came from stones used to mark ancient roadways in the Roman Empire.
Today we use signs but they serve the same purpose, reassuring travelers that they are headed in the right direction. They often reflect how far one has traveled, or the distance remaining until they reach their destination.
Often, we are tempted to return to our former life when we forget the progress that was already made. So was the case with the Israelites who often longed to return to slavery rather than enduring the desert.
The Wilderness Experience
When the Israelites fled the life of slavery in Egypt, a concern of God was that their fear would cause them to run back to slavery.
Exodus 13:17 states, “When Pharoah let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
So God led the Israelites on a journey, directing their every step. But when the Egyptians were chasing the Israelites, they forgot the promises of God. In Exodus 14:12, fearing death, the Israelites started lamenting that it would probably have been better for them to remain enslaved in Egypt. God had other plans for them though, as He parted the Red Sea for them. He led them to the safety of the shore while He closed the sea on their enemy.
But time after time, the Israelites found themselves forgetting how far they had gone and the mighty works of the Lord that they had seen displayed. Many feared dying of starvation in the wilderness. But God was faithful to provide bread from heaven for them to eat. He even instructed them to preserve a portion of this manna. It was to serve as a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness for generations to come (Exodus 16:32).
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Remembering When
Remembering how far God has brought you in your pursuit of recovery is so important.
In Alcoholics Anonymous and similar 12 step groups, members celebrate their length of sobriety with a coin. These coins serve to remind individuals of the success that they have already achieved on their journey. They help provide motivation to keep pressing forward.
Sin and addiction are our modern day Egypt, and we will certainly find times when we are tempted to turn back. In those times, having something to remind you how far you’ve come can play a big role in keeping you focused on the race God has for you.
Milestones Worth Commemorating
Millions of men have been courageously stepping into the battle for purity through the use of the Conquer Series. This life-changing study is biblically and scientifically based, and provides powerful testimonies, expert interviews, and cinematic reenactments to show that freedom is attainable.
Men have learned that trying harder does not work, and have been encouraged to seek and find their identity in Christ. Along the way, these men had to endure the pain as they unearthed wounds rooted deep within their past. And they have joined arm in arm with their brothers in Christ, vowing that no man would be left behind.
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As men begin their journey using the Conquer Series, many are now experiencing sobriety. As a result, marriages are starting to heal and families are being restored.
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Summer shared,
“I cannot thank you enough for all the sacrifices, time, energy, love, and hard work you and your team put in to make the Conquer Series. Like so many others, it has RADICALLY changed our lives. My husband and I have been in the addiction world for 15 years, and we have tried nearly everything. There is NOTHING like your program. The Conquer Series gave me my husband back. Thank you!”
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These are victories worth celebrating and remembering when temptation strikes. Through the Conquer Series men are learning to combat the lies by speaking Biblical truths. But sometimes, they just need something to hold in their hands to remind them of the great progress they have made.
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Survival Kit
Host of the Conquer Series, Dr. Ted Roberts, encourages men to create a survival kit that they can open and be reminded of what God has done in their life. This becomes a personal milestone that helps them see how far they’ve come. The kit should include:
- A letter to yourself about the type of person you want to become
- A picture of your loved ones
- A list of consequences if you do turn back
- A token of victory
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A Token For Conquerors
Sometimes it can be hard to find that meaningful token of victory. To help, we’ve designed a unique coin for men who’ve been through the Conquer Series. Just as God has begun to refine you, the Conquer Coin is forged through fire and includes the sword and flame insignia.
Men will also be reminded of Romans 5:20,
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.”
Some of the earliest milestones from the Roman Empire didn’t indicate a distance, but the name of the reigning emperor. They reminded people that they were in the Roman Empire – that was their identity. The Conquer Coin is there to remind you not only of how far you’ve come, but your identity as a Conqueror in Christ.
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You will be able to reminisce on who you once were, and give humble honor and thanksgiving to God for rescuing you from that former darkness. And as you turn this coin around between your fingers, you will draw strength to face another day while being reminded that they are part of a body of men who have become more than conquerors in Christ!
These coins are ideal for leaders to present to their men. Hand them out on the final night of your group or during an awards ceremony celebrating the progress each man has made. Pause and reflect on the goodness of God, while looking forward to the on-going journey that lies ahead.
Order your Conquer Coin today!
Writing at the intersection of faith and neuroscience to help men and women break destructive cycles and walk in lasting freedom.
More articles by Jeremy Wiles →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a survival kit in porn recovery?
It is a small collection of physical reminders a man can open when he needs to remember what God has done in his life. The Conquer Series suggests four things: a letter to yourself describing the kind of man you want to become, a picture of your loved ones, a written list of the consequences if you turn back, and a token of victory. Together they become a personal milestone.
What is the Conquer Coin?
The Conquer Coin is a token of victory designed for men who have walked through the Conquer Series. Just as God refines a man, the coin is forged through fire and carries the sword and flame insignia along with Romans 5:20. Turning it over in your fingers draws strength for another day and reminds you that you belong to a body of men who have become more than conquerors in Christ.
Where does the word milestone come from?
From literal stones set along the roadways of the Roman Empire. They reassured travelers they were headed the right direction and showed how far they had come or how far was left. Some of the earliest ones did not mark distance at all; they carried the name of the reigning emperor, telling people whose empire they stood in. In other words, they marked identity.
What does the Conquer Series actually teach?
It is a biblically and scientifically grounded study built around powerful testimonies, expert interviews, and cinematic reenactments that show freedom is genuinely attainable. Men learn that trying harder does not work and are pointed toward their identity in Christ. Along the way they endure the pain of unearthing wounds rooted deep in their past, arm in arm with brothers who vow that no man gets left behind.
What does Romans 5:20 mean for someone in recovery?
Where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. It means the grace of God always outruns your worst season, and it is why the verse is stamped on a coin men carry. You can look honestly at who you once were, give humble thanks to God for rescuing you out of that darkness, and keep walking. Grace is not a reward for finishing. It is what carries you through.
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