Prayers List

In recovery, we come to rely on prayer and meditation to connect us with our higher power as we understand them.

See below for a list of Prayers you can rely on.

SUGGESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER AND MEDITATION

FROM THE BIG BOOK

 1) Make no requests in prayer for yourself only.

2) Never pray for your own selfish ends.

3) Select and memorize a few set prayers that emphasize the principles of the steps.

4) Ask a priest, minister, or Rabbi about helpful books and prayers that emphasize the principles of the Steps.

 5) Be quick to see where religious people are right.

6) Make use of what religious people have to offer. (Page 87 BB)

SERENITY PRAYER

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. AMEN (Continued below) Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. AMEN

THE LORD'S PRAYER

OUR FATHER, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN

MORNING PRAYER

GOD, direct my thinking today so that it is divorced of self-pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking, and fear. God inspires my thinking, decisions, and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy. Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step. God, give me what I need to take care of any problems. I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to you and my fellow man (in the name of the Steps I pray.) AMEN (Page 86 BB)

NIGHT PRAYER

GOD, forgive me where I have been resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid today. Help me to not keep anything to myself but to discuss it all openly with another person - show me where I owe an apology and help me make it. Help me to be kind and loving to all people. Use me in the mainstream of life God. Remove worry, remorse or morbid (sick) reflections that I may be of usefulness to others. AMEN (Page 86 BB)

FIRST STEP PRAYER

GOD, Creative Intelligence, Universal Mind, Spirit of Nature or Spirit of the Universe my name is ______ , and I’m a real alcoholic... I need your help today. AMEN (Page 10-12, Ch. 3, Page 46 BB)

SECOND STEP PRAYER

GOD, I’m standing at the turning point right now. Give me your protection and care as I abandon myself to you and give up my old ways and my old ideas just for today. AMEN (Page 59 BB)

THIRD STEP PRAYERS

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! AMEN (Page 63 BB) GOD, Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how to live. AMEN (Page 59 BB) *****

FOURTH STEP PRAYERS

 WHEN IN DOUBT  I am to sit quietly when in doubt, asking only for direction and strength to meet my problems as He would have me. Never am I to pray for myself, except as my requests bore on my usefulness to others. Then only might I expect to receive. But that would be in great measure.” (Page 13 BB)

WHEN I AM DISTURBED BY THE CONDUCT (SYMPTOMS) OF OTHERS “This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.” (p. 67 BB) GOD, help me to show this person the same tolerance, pity, and patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend. This is a sick person, how can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done. AMEN (See above & Page 141 of 12 St 12)

WHEN I AM AFRAID "We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be." (Page 68 BB) GOD, relieve me of His fear and direct my attention to what you would have me be. AMEN

WHEN I AM AWARE OF MY OWN DEFECTS AND SEEKING GOD S HELP TO CHANGE "We asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them, we ask God what we should do about each specific matter." (Page 69 BB) GOD, mold my ideals in this particular area of my life and help me to live up to them. What should I do in each specific matter? Guide me God and give me strength to do right AMEN

FIFTH STEP PRAYER

GOD, I thank you from the bottom of my heart that I know you better. Help me become aware of anything I have omitted discussing with another person. Help me to do what is necessary to walk a free man at last. AMEN (Page 75 BB)

SIXTH STEP PRAYER 

GOD, help me become willing to let go of all the things to which I still cling. Help me to be ready to let You remove all of these defects, that Your will and purpose may take their place. AMEN (Page 76 BB)

SEVENTH STEP PRAYER 

"I humbly offered myself to God, as I then understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction. I admitted for the first time that of myself I was nothing; that without Him I was lost. I ruthlessly faced my sins and became willing to have my new-found Friend take them away, root and branch." (Page 13 BB) MY CREATOR, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good & bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you & my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do Your bidding. AMEN (Page 76 BB)

 EIGHTH STEP PRAYER

"We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes." (Page 76 BB) GOD help me to become willing to sweep away the debris of self will and self reliant living. Thy will be done for his person as well as for me. AMEN

NINTH STEP PRAYER

 God, give me the strength and direction to do the right thing no matter what the consequences may be. Help me to consider others and not harm them in any way. Help me to consult with others before I take any actions that would cause me to be sorry. Help me to not repeat such behaviors. Show me the way of Patience, Tolerance, Kindliness, and Love and help me live the spiritual life. AMEN (Page 78-80 BB)

TENTH STEP PRAYERS

 GOD, remove the Selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear that has cropped up in my life right now. Help me to discuss this with someone immediately and make amends quickly if I have harmed anyone. Help me to cease fighting anything and anyone. Show me where I may be helpful to someone else. Help me react sanely; not cocky or afraid. How can I best serve You - Your will, not mine be done. AMEN (Page 84-85 BB) "How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done." AMEN (Page 85 BB)

ELEVENTH STEP PRAYER

As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day ’Thy will be done.' (Page 87-88 BB) (Page 62 BB)