Recovery Prayers

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

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

Dear God,
I am powerless and my life is unmanageable without Your help and guidance. I come to you today because I believe that You can restore and renew me to meet my needs today. Since I can not manage my life or affairs, I have decided to give them to You. I put my life, my will, my thoughts, my desires and ambitions in Your hands.

I give You all of me: the good and the bad, the character defects and shortcomings, my selfishness, resentments and problems. I know that You will work them out in accordance with Your plan. Such as I am, take me and use me in Your service. Guide and direct my ways and show me what to do for You.

I can not control or change my friends or loved ones, so I release them into Your care for your loving hands to do with as You will. Just keep me loving and free from judging them. If they need changing, God, You'll have to do it: I can't. Just make me willing and ready to be of service to do my best.

Help me see how I have harmed others and make me willing to make amends to all of them. Keep me ever mindful of thoughts and actions that harm myself and others, and which separate me from Your light, love and spirit. And when I commit these errors, make me aware of them and help me to admit each one promptly.

I am seeking to know You better, and to love You more. I am seeking knowledge of You will for me and the power to carry it out.

God direct my thinking today so that it be divorced of self pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking and fear. God inspire 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

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

First Step Prayer
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.

3rd Step Prayer
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

Fifth Step Prayer
Higher Power,
My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me in this Step, for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, and I will do it.

Seventh 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 stand 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

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, and growing in spiritual progress.

Eleventh Step Prayer
Higher Power, as I understand You, I pray to keep open my connection with You and to keep it clear from the confusion of daily life. Through my prayers and meditations, I ask especially for freedom from self-will, rationalization, and wishful thinking. I pray for the guidance of correct thought and positive action. Your will, Higher Power, not mine, be done.

Second Step Prayer
I pray for an open mind so I may become to believe in a Power greater than myself. I pay for humility and the continued opportunity to increase my faith. I don't want to be crazy anymore.

Fourth Step Prayer
Dear God,
It is I who has made my life a mess. I have done it, and I cannot undo it. My mistakes are mine, and I will begin a searching and 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.

Sixth Step Prayer
Dear God,
I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are obstacles to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental health.

Eighth Step Prayer
Higher Power,
I ask for Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my mistakes, and be forgiving to others just as You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. This I pray.

Tenth Step Prayer
I pray I am continue:
To grow in understanding and 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 and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors;
To keep my willfulness in check;
To always remember I need Your help;
To keep love and tolerance of others as my code;
And to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, my Higher Power.

Twelfth Step Prayer
Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold. The help I have received I shall pass on and give to others, both in and 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 and wisdom to practice the principles of this way of life in all I do and say. I need You, my friends, and the Program every hour of each day. This is a better way to live

Just for today, I will try to live through this day only
and not tackle my whole life problem at once.
I can do something for twelve hours that would appall me if
I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy.
This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said, that
"most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind.
I will study. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer.
I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is, and not try to
adjust everything to my own desires.
I will take my "luck" as it comes, and fit myself to it.

Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways:
I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out.
I will do at least two things I don't want to--just for exercise.
I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt;
they may be hurt, but today I will not show it

Just for today, I will be agreeable.
I will look as well as I can, dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, criticize not one bit, not find fault with anything and not try to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program.
I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it.
I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all by myself, and relax. During this half hour, sometime, I will try to get a better perspective
of my life.

Just for today, I will be unafraid.
Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful,
and to believe that as I give to the world, so the world will give to me.

-Kenneth L. Holmes

Just For Today, copyright 1972 by Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

First Step PrayerI 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.

Fifth Step PrayerHigher Power, My inventory has shown me who I am, yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me in this Step, for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, and I will do it.

Seventh Step PrayerMy 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 stand 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

Second Step PrayerI pray for an open mind so I may become to believe in a Power greater than myself. I pay for humility and the continued opportunity to increase my faith. I don't want to be crazy anymore.