What is the Third Step Prayer?

[jasonl82]

This might sound kinda of stupid but I can't figure out what the third step prayer is, I always hear people talking about it but I can't find it in any of the literature. If someone could just clue me in I'd be very grateful, it sounds like I alot of people use it on a daily basis.

[shyQcodep]

Hi Jason, I'm James - alcoholic, pothead, codependent et cetera

The Third Step Prayer comes from the How It Works chapter of the AA Big Book, and while I can't speak for NA I suspect that it's in a similar place in the Basic Text. In the BB it says that when many of us accepted step 3 (Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him) we said this prayer:

God, I offer myself to you to build with me and to do with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do your will. Remove my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of your power, your love, and your way of life. May I do your will always.

(From memory, in modern English rather than verbatim from the BB)

I do use this prayer on a daily (or more) basis, and I think that it has an important effect in my life. Do I live up to it every day???? Silly question.

The more interesting question is just when it became real to me, and that was after I made it almost word by word through step 2 - first coming to believe, then coming to believe in a power greater than myself, coming to accept that I wasn't sane, and finally coming to believe that I could be restored to sanity by that power greater than myself. That last bit was the stretch, both because I don't think that I've ever really been sane and because I needed to believe that I was redeemable. That belief that I was redeemable came from hearing people in the rooms, and seeing a small bit of insanity removed from myself.

[margo]

Hi Jason! The Narcotics Anonymous third step prayer goes as follows:

Take my will and my life

Guide me in my recovery

Show me how to live

Short, simple, and to the point! Just what this recovering addict needs!

[shyQcodep]

Wow, simple and to the point. But I still like the "relieve me of the bondage of self" phrase in the AA version - and it sooooo speaks to my complicated thinking.

[godsonmyside]

In the NA Basic Text the 3rd Step prayer is indeed in How It Work in the 3rd step reading "Take my will and my life, guide me in my recovery, show me how to live". Simple and to the point. The Basict Text would be the weapon, if you don't have one get one, its like going to war without a weapon!!

[Gooch]

Originally Posted by shyQcodep

Wow, simple and to the point. But I still like the "relieve me of the bondage of self" phrase in the AA version - and it sooooo speaks to my complicated thinking.

"take my will and my life" same thing

[jasonl82]

Thank you everyone for helping me out I do have a Basic Text and I don't know how I missed that part but I'm definetly going to go back and find it and high light it now.

[jasonl82]

I also was wondering how many of you believe you have to be on your knees in order to pray? I have trouble getting myself to do this, I find that when I'm feeling spiritual whether it be in the car or in my room I just like to pray no matter what position I'm in. Do any of you feel very strongly that in order to truly pray you have to be on your knees?

[Dan]

For me, prayer is an attempt to develop spiritual awareness.
Harvesting a tree, changing a diaper or preparing a meal... These are all moments where I have felt connected to something intangible, yet soothing.
Being on my knees has never been of great importance.

[shyQcodep]

For me both work, but some of the prayers on my knees are very different experiences.

As I posted elsewhere, I entered recovery via Alanon, and there nobody really even suggested anything - so I started praying in a very casual, unstructured way to a G-d that I didn't have any real belief in. By the time I graduated to AA, I knew that G-d was listening.

My first (and temporary) AA sponsor strongly suggested prayer on my knees, and I followed that suggestion. It definitely deepened my prayer experience - as long as I combined that with readings and quiet time.

That's my experience...and it's definitely brought some strength.

James

[Gooch]

Originally Posted by DangerousDan

For me, prayer is an attempt to develop spiritual awareness.

Harvesting a tree, changing a diaper or preparing a meal... These are all moments where I have felt connected to something intangible, yet soothing.
Being on my knees has never been of great importance.

I pray and meditate when I ride my bike ( and not just that the knothead in the 4 wheeler doesn't pull out in front of me lol ), when I turn on the computer and read my email, when I am trying to figure out what the next thing to do is, ( haven't changed a diaper in a while, lol close is praying for patience when I have to dig up the septic tank ) .

Prayer and meditation are actions we can take to further develop the personal relationship with a God of our understanding.

.. "practice these principles"

I like a certain verse that goes "rejoice in all things for this is the will of God for you"

It reminds me of the peace that is available through all situations, even those I may find uncomfortable of fear filled.

Pretty kewl for a guy who got to NA 15 years ago, flinching and grabbing the edge of his chair every time he heard the word God.

We do recover! If my life can change this drastically anyones can. I always felt like I was too sick, too bad, or too f'd up to get this. By grace and unconditional love, and following the NA way to the best of my ability each day, I've managed to collect over 13 years of those consecutive Just For Todays.

You can too. I'll believe in you until you believe in yourself!

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Gooch

Prayer and meditation are actions we can take to further develop the personal relationship with a God of our understanding.
...snip...
It reminds me of the peace that is available through all situations, even those I may find uncomfortable of fear filled.

Yep. I'm coming to understand how true it is when we are told that the antidote to fear is faith.
One of the gifts of sobriety, for me anyway, is this growing sense, or belief, that I can maintain a calm outlook even in the most chaotic life events. And this is very new to me, and somewhat of a revelation.

[servicejunkie]

I enjoy prayer ALL the time. I am constantly praying throughout the day in all situations. Rarely do I get on my knees, but it is nice to occasionally humble myself before god by kneeling, and it helps make the experience more sincere and meaningful. It really doesn't matter how you do it, as long as it comes from the heart. I heard a very wise man share "The greatest prayer you can give to the god of your understanding is the way you live your life each day." Make your whole day one continuous prayer!! By the way, I believe a sponsor requiring a sponsee to get on his knees to pray or ANY specific religous practices goes against our traditions and steps and discourages people from finding a god of their OWN understanding. Just my 2 cents.
Mike

[godsonmyside]

I agree that we do it anyway we want, just as we find our own understanding. On going is the key, not every so often. continue our conscience contact, knee's is nowhere in there. What ever works, works!!!

[Recoveree]

Being on your knees to pray has nothing to do with praying unless you practice one of the particular religions that espouse kneeling while praying.
The NA version of the Third Step Prayer is on page 21 of the BT... 5th paragraph.

For you history buffs....

The Third Step and Your Prayer
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

This statement follows the Third Step Prayer on page 63 of the Big Book:
"The wording [used for the prayer to affirm our "3rd Step Decision"] was, of course, quite optional so long as we expressed the idea, voicing it without reservation."

Some of our founders and early members of the fellowship used a prayer other than the one on page 63 of the Big Book to take newcomers through their "decision" -- namely because the Big Book wasn't printed until 1939 and they got our Program from Oxford Group principles. Bill W., Dr. Bob, and Bill D. started making 12 Step calls and taking others through the original 6 "steps" in the summer of 1935.

Here are a couple examples of "3rd Step Prayers" used by our early members:



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THIRD STEP PRAYER used by Dr. Bob

Dear God,
I'm sorry about the mess I've made of my life.
I want to turn away from all the wrong things I've ever done and all the wrong things I've ever been. Please forgive me for it all.
I know You have the power to change my life and can turn me into a winner. Thank You, God for getting my attention long enough to interest me in trying it Your way.
God, please take over the management of my life and everything about me. I am making this conscious decision to turn my will and my life over to Your care and am asking You to please take over all parts of my life.
Please, God, move into my heart. However You do it is Your business, but make Yourself real inside me and fill my awful emptiness. Fill me with your love and Holy Spirit and make me know Your will for me. And now, God, help Yourself to me and keep on doing it. I'm not sure I want You to, but do it anyhow.
I rejoice that I am now a part of Your people, that my uncertainty is gone forever, and that You now have control of my will and my life. Thank You and I praise Your name. Amen.



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THIRD STEP PRAYER used by Clarence Snyder. Clarence started A.A. Group #3 in Cleveland.

(Both sponsor and protégé on their knees...)
Sponsor says: God, this is __________, he is coming to You in all humility to ask You to guide and direct him. __________ realizes that his life is messed up and unmanageable. __________ is coming to You Lord in all humility to ask to be one of your children - to work for you, to serve and dedicate his life to you and to turn his will over that he may be an instrument of your love.

(Protégé repeats after the sponsor):
Lord, I ask that you guide and direct me, and that I have decided to turn my life and will over to you. To serve You and to dedicate my life to You. I thank you Lord, I believe that if I ask this in prayer, I shall receive what I have asked for. Thank you God. Amen.



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The Prayer that some others use..

God, help me today to not put anything into my mind or body that you would not have there. Take all of my relationships in life and make of them what you will. Thy will only be done in their life as well as in mine. And let me know the Truth. Amen.



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You see, there is no set prayer that "MUST" be used, just a simple prayer of your own wording to confirm your willingness to take action as a result of your decision, to do whatever is necessary to place your Higher Power in control of all aspects of your life, to abide by His will, that you might stay clean this day, Today.

[godsonmyside]

Just to clarify, Recoveree's book I believe is an earlier edition of the BT, the 5th Edition, 3rd step prayer woul have the 3rd step prayer last sentence of pg. 25., Good imfo, thanx :wow:

[Gooch]

depends on which book yeah.. I think he has read 'em all and helped write a couple chapters

[margo]

LOL!!!