In this post we will discover what the step prayer is. What do AA members mean when they talk about the steps and the prayers? Is there a specific reason why the prayer has steps and what is the reason for that?
There are actually 12 prayers that accompany the 12-step program that AA members journey through. This what the step prayer is, some prayers from the Big Book of alcoholics anonymous that help members of AA along their journey to healing.
It's usually one of four things — and each one needs a completely different strategy to break through. This 2-minute assessment tells you exactly which pattern is blocking you.
Dear Lord, I admit that I am powerless over my addiction. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it. Help me this day to understand The true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my addiction.
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Heavenly Fther, I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity. I humbly ask that you remove all twisted thought & Addictive behavior from me this day. Heal my spirit & restore in me a clear mind.
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 life, May I do Thy will always!
Dear God, It is I who has made my life a mess. I have done it, but I cannot undo it. My mistakes are mine & I will begin a searching & fearless moral inventory. I will write down my wrongs But I will also include that which is good. I pray for the strength to complete the task.
Higher Power, My inventory has shown me who I am, Yet I ask for Your help In admitting my wrongs to another person & to You. Assure me, & be with me, in this Step, For without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, & I do it.
Sixth Step Prayer
Dear God, I am ready for Your help In removing from me the defects of character Which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself & Guide me toward spiritual & mental health.
Seventh Step Prayer
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.
Eighth Step Prayer
Higher Power, I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my mistakes & Be forgiving to others as You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. This I pray.
Ninth Step Prayer
Higher Power, I pray for the right attitude to make my amends, Being ever mindful not to harm others in the process. I ask for Your guidance in making indirect amends. Most important, I will continue to make amends By staying abstinent, helping others & Growing in spiritual progress.
Tenth Step Prayer
I pray I may continue: to grow in understanding & effectiveness; to take daily spot check inventories of myself; to correct mistakes when I make them; to take responsibility for my actions; to be ever aware of my negative & self-defeating attitudes & behaviors; To keep my willfulness in check; to always remember I need Your help; to keep love & tolerance of others as my code; & to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, My Higher Power.
Eleventh Step Prayer
Higher Power, as I understand You, I pray to keep my connection with You Open & clear from the confusion of daily life. Through my prayers & meditation I ask especially for Freedom from self-will, rationalization, & wishful thinking. I pray for the guidance of correct thought & positive action. Your will Higher Power, not mine, be done.
Twelfth Step Prayer
Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold. The help I have received I shall pass on & give to others, Both in & out of the Fellowship. For this opportunity I am grateful. I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day On the road of spiritual progress. I pray for the inner strength & wisdom To practice the principles of this way of life in all I do & say. I need You, my friends, & the program every hour of every day. This is a better way to live.
The steps of AA
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“Great things are not done by impulse,but by a series of small things brought together” – Vincent van Gogh
The care of God, a personal relationship with Him, and the knowledge of His will are important facets or building blocks along the way in the recovery process. The steps of AA are based on the following themes.
Step 1: surrender
Surrender is about giving over control.
Step 2: hope
Hope is about believing something good can happen.
Step 3: faith
Faith is about believing in God.
Step 4: honesty
Honesty is about facing the truth.
Step 5: trust
Trust is about free falling into grace.
Step 6: willingness
Willingness is about being open to change.
Step 7: humility
Humility is about letting go of pride and being right.
Step 8: responsibility
Responsibility is about stepping up.
Step 9: accountability
Accountability is about not going at it alone.
Step 10: power
Power is about being strengthened.
Step 11: patience
Patience is about waiting it out.
Step 12: service
Service is about helping others.
See if you can identify these themes in the prayer below.
An AA step prayer with all 12 steps
Dear Heavenly Father,
I surrender all that I am before You because You are worthy of my whole life.
There is nothing I hold back as I lay it all down.
You are my hope, my anchor in the storm, and I will put my faith in You.
I don’t want to hide anything anymore.
Would you shine a light on any hiddenness in my life, and things I’ve been avoiding, so that I can deal with them in honesty?
I trust that I am safe here in Your hands.
That is why I am willing to invite Your searching gaze over my life – my whole life, with nothing held back.
I humbly stand before You
and acknowledge the things that I’ve messed up.
I know that nothing is ruined beyond repair but only by Your hands.
Your hands, that can bring beauty from ashes, and gardens from graves.
I see Jesus placing a hand on my shoulder and helping me up.
He is telling me : “Stand, be strong.”
In His encouragement, I am able to take responsibility for the wrongs I have done.
But then He tells me: “Look up, look around”
I look and I see I was never alone.
There around me, I see my family, my mentors, the other members of my AA group.
They are cheering me on.
They are waving at me.
They believe the best in me.
And so I bravely take a step forward, with my eyes fixed on You, Jesus. You alone.
I gaze at Him and I ask:
“Would you empower me by your Holy Spirit
to have patience and inner peace that is needed in this addiction recovery journey?
Use me to reach
other group members and human beings in God’s world
Eljoh Hartzer is combining theology and art to nurture faith journeys across generations. She is a Masters-level Practical Theologian with the University of Stellenbosch. She is also a writer and editor in the niche of Christianity and children's content and she illustrates children's books. Eljoh resides in the Swartland area in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
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