The 12 Step Prayers of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are a set of祈祷 texts that play a crucial role in the spiritual programming of the organization. These prayers are recited during AA meetings and are an integral part of the 12 Steps of AA, which serve as the foundation of the program. While there are many variations of the prayers, the most well-known and frequently recited are The Serenity Prayer and the prayers for Steps One, Three, Seven, and Eleven.
- The Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer is often cited as the most powerful AA prayer, often recited at the beginning and end of each 12 Step meeting. It reads:
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.
This prayer emphasizes the AA principle of acceptance, encouraging members to first accept the reality of their situation, including mistakes made and people they cannot change. It then acknowledges the desire to change things and the courage required to make those changes. Finally, it asks for wisdom to distinguish between what can and cannot be changed.
- The First Step Prayer
The First Step Prayer is directed toward acknowledging the powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of one's life when attempting to control it. It reads:
We admitting we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
This step is about sweeping away denial and facing the reality of addiction, setting the stage for abounding in hope and finding a solution through AA's steps.
- The Third Step Prayer
The Third Step Prayer is about making a decision to turn one's will and life over to God, with the understanding that this is a gradual process. It reads:
Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand God.
This prayer expresses a commitment to surrendering control to a higher power, which is seen as an ongoing practice rather than a single event.
- The Seventh Step Prayer
The Seventh Step Prayer is a request for help in removing shortcomings and defects of character. It reads:
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.
This step is about acknowledging personal flaws and asking for help in overcoming them, with a focus on personal growth and effectiveness in recovery.
- The Eleventh Step Prayer
The Eleventh Step Prayer is a request for guidance and help in improving conscious contact with God. It reads:
Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. There is more than one prayer for this step. Regardless of the one you choose, the prayer for this step is about asking for guidance from your Higher Power and whatever it takes to follow that guidance.
This step is about seeking spiritual guidance and the power to carry out that guidance, with an emphasis on living a life according to one's highest principles., the 12 Step Prayers of AA are a fundamental part of the AA program, providing a spiritual foundation and emotional support to members as they work to achieve and maintain sobriety. These prayers encourage acceptance, commitment, healing, and growth, helping to create a spiritual community within AA.