Prayers of Recovery

Prayer is a vital part of any recovery. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says, that “lack of power was our dilemma” and that we “needed to find a Power by which we could live.” Prayers in the evening and in the morning are part of Step work. If one isn’t praying, they are relying on their own power. Here are some prayers that can be prayed.

Third Step Prayer

God, I offer myself to Thee To build with me & to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy love & Thy way of lifeGod, I offer myself to Thee To build with me & to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy love & Thy way of life.

God, I offer myself to Thee-

To build with me

and to do with me as Thou wilt.

Relieve me of the bondage of self,

that I may better do Thy will.

Take away my difficulties,

that victory over them may bear witness

to those I would help of Thy Power,

Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.

May I do Thy will always!

7th Step Prayer

My Creator,

I am now willing that You should have all of me,

good and bad.

I pray that You now remove from me

every single defect of character which stands in the way

of my usefulness to You and my fellows.

Grant me strength, as I go out from here,

to do Your bidding.

Amen

“Faith without works is dead.”

11th Step Prayer

The Prayer of St.Francis of Assisi is affectionately known as The Eleventh Step Prayer as it appears in the book “12 Steps and 12 Traditions” in the reading for the eleventh step. According to this website dedicated to St. Francis, this prayer was almost certainly not written by him. It apparently dates from the early part of the 20th century, and its author is unknown. It was found in Normandy in 1915, written on the back of a holy card of St. Francis. The version that follows is from the “12 and 12” and differs from the original.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!

That where there is hatred,

I may bring love.

That where there is wrong,

I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.

That where there is discord,

I may bring harmony.

That where there is error,

I may bring truth.

That where there is doubt,

I may bring faith.

That where there is despair,

I may bring hope.

That where there are shadows,

I may bring light.

That where there is sadness,

I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort,

than to be comforted.

To understand,

than to be understood.

To love,

than to be loved.

For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.

It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.

Set Aside Prayer

God,

Please help me set aside

everything I think I know

about myself, my disease,

these steps, and especially You;

for an open mind

and a new experience

with myself, my disease,

these steps, and especially You.