LittleBird2

Hello all,

I'd love to hear what others have come up with as their own versions of the 3rd and 7th step prayers. I'm just doing some exploring right now. I struggle with the spiritual portion of the program as I know many people do. It's something that I'm working hard on in my own heart and with my sponsor. I'm fairly new to AA (14 1/2 months) and am having a hard time. Just trying to get some ideas and inspiration. Thanks for any input. Much Love. ~Tiffany

tomsteve

"help! i dont know what with, but please help!"

FeenixxRising

The link below contains various 3rd step prayers. I like the one below, it's simple and direct.

Friends of Bill W. - Third Step Prayers


Higher Power,
I have tried to control the uncontrollable for far too long.
I acknowledge that my life is unmanageable.
I ask for your care and guidance.
Grant me honesty, courage, humility, and serenity,
to face that which keeps me from you and others.
I give this life to you to do with as you will.

2granddaughters

"God, please help me !!!! ...... No no no, not like that !!!"



All the best.

Bob R

laurie6781

This is what has helped me stay on a 'spiritual path' for almost 32 years now.

Each morning upon arising I 'pray' to HP:

Dear Great Spirit help me to do your direction all day today."

Then I go on about my day, PRACTICING kindness, thoughtfulness and consideration to ALL who cross my path and treat ALL who cross my path as I would wish to be treated.

Upon getting ready for bed at night I do a Step 10 and then:

Dear Great Spirit: Thank you so much for your guidance today."

And I go to bed to get my rest, so that tomorrow I may do it all over again.

Now that does not mean that my day is perfect or I am perfect, however I do seem to be able to go to bed at night knowing I was the best ME, my 'me' is better some days than others, but honestly it is the best 'me' I could be that day. For me I had to 'keep it simple' because I can complicate the **** out of a little ant hill and turn it into Mt Everest in 30 seconds, lol I also figure my 'practicing' as stated above, covers The 10 Commandments, The 12 Steps, and The Golden Rule.

Keep it simple and it can work for you also.

Love and hugs,

2granddaughters

Tiffany, I'll tell you what the old priest that ran the recovery home in 1989 told me.

I told the priest that I had a hard time praying because I found it hard to believe in God ... The priest told me to ask in my prayers to get to know God better.

I didn't want to pray because I didn't believe and the priest told me that it was in the praying that I would come to believe.

Often what I think/believe is the problem is just about opposite to correct.

All the best.

Bob R

Tommyh

I just stick with the book in my attempt to keep it simple and give up my will

sugarbear1

I don't give up my will; I know I am under the care of a higher power and I experienced that after working through to step 7 with willingness, honesty and openmindedness. Step 9 was most important. Working 10-12 daily is a necessity today.

Kathleen41

I am not a "rote" prayer kind of person, so I pray differently all the time. but in the morning I usually pray something like this:

Dear God,

Please strenghthen me to do your work on Earth today. Free me of my selfishness so that I may be used as your instrument. Help me to be the person you would have me be. Put the love in my heart, and the words in my mouth.

Amen

You see, God hasn't walked the Earth in quite some. I believe if I am willing, He can use me as a conduit to help others in many ways, not just AA. My profession is a helping one; in order for me to be optimally effective in my program and in my life, I need to start my day focused on the right thing: Helping God accomplish his mission here on earth. As opposed to asking for God's help to accomplish my mission here on earth.

CousinA

I'm just back from dinner with my friend and co-sponsor (we're sponsoring each other). Jane told me one of the things she uses is "Surprise Me".

One of mine is "shut up Allan".

-allan

Boleo

Help! I need somebody
Help! Not just anybody
Help! You know I need someone
Help!

When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone I'm not so self assured
Now I find I've changed my mind, I've opened up the doors

Help me if you can I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before

Help me if you can I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please please help me?
Help me, help me... oom

Threshold

Third step prayer.

Help me today to not put anything into my mind or body that you would not have there.
Take all of my relationships and do with them what you will.
Let me know the truth.

another.

Take my will and my life, guide me in my recovery, teach me how to live.

Step 7...

I give myself permission to release toxicity from every level of my energy field, (life)
I rescind outdated vows of poverty, struggle, silence and unworthiness.
I release resistence.
I let go of old programs that kept me stuck in old patterns.
I let go of everything I do not want or need for my highest good.

I open to the gifts of the Universe.
I allow abundance to flow through me.
I accept support when I need it.
let me know what to do in a way I can understand,
I accept peace and joy in all aspects of my life.

I know that this is for the highest good of all concerned,
I deepen my awareness of the consciousness from which all actions spring,
I live my mission,
My intention is to live free from struggle, fear and hopelessness.

I integrate trust into every aspect of my life.
I breath love into my job, my body, my relationships.
Today is an opportunity for peace, I let my whole body feel its energy.

and another

Step Seven Prayer
In this moment, I ask my Higher Power
to, remove all of my shortcomings,
relieving me of the burden of my past.
In this moment, I place my hand
in God’s, trusting that the void I
experience is being filled with my
Higher Power’s unconditional love
for me and those in my life.

UncleMeat69

I like to use the "Patience Prayer" :

"God grant me patience, and hurry up !"

My other favorite I use on bad days:

"Thanks God for a s_ _ _ _ y day !"

bbthumper

This prayer from Thomas Merton is a favorite of mine:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone

paul99

The one I use is very similar to the third step prayer - it's The Prayer of Abandonment from Charles de Foucald

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

FlyerFan

Dear God, please help me stay out of my own way today!