Lord, make me a channel of thy peacethat where there is hatred, i may bring lovethat where there is wrong, i may bring the spirit of forgivenessthat where there is discord, i may bring harmonythat where there is error, i may bring truththat where there is doubt, i may. 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. Grant me strength, as i go out from here, to do your bidding. Most members of alcoholics anonymous will say this simple suggestion about step 11. If you havent heard it before, aa is a simple program for complex people.
God, inspire my thinking, decisions and intuitions. Recovery eleventh step morning and nightly prayers. The seventh step prayer from page 76 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. We each arrived at the doors of aa with an intensive and lengthy history of things that do not work today, in aa and in recovery, our history has added an intensive and lengthy history of things that do work and we will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it abc page 60 from the big book. Prayer of saint francis the aa 11th step prayer as we jump into december and the christmas season, please let this prayer help you like it helps me. My creator, i am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. Prayers from the big book of alcoholics anonymous i earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray. Events archive northeast florida intergroup services. Breaking down step eleven of aa alcoholics anonymous. Renoux aa prayer 12 step prayers recovery prayer humility prayer chapter 6 into action alcoholics anonymous aa 12. The following is a list ofapproximately 150 promises that i compiled from the first edition of the big book. This step, like step seven, can be difficult for agnostic and atheist participants, but even the most devout members of alcoholics. Francis of assisi is affectionately known as the eleventh step prayer as it appears in the book 12 steps and 12 traditions in the reading for the eleventh step. Francis, this prayer was almost certainly not written by him.
Once more we read our prayer, and again try to see what its inner essence is. Rayer and meditation are our principal means of con scious contact with god. Father, help me to quickly make amends if i have harmed. You may find the complete text on the official web site of alcoholics anonymous on this page you can discover what this book tells about. This collective wisdom succinctly captures the meanings of prayer and meditation so well. It helps me to focus on others and to keep me humble and grateful for all the blessings in my life that i have received from god. God, i offer myself to thee to build with me and to do with me as thou wilt. For many people in recovery, step 11 presents a bit of a challenge. After all, i feel like thats really what we all want deep down. Did you know, before the big book was published, the early members of aa studied the bible. Aa states it is nonreligious but rather spiritual in design, and as its cornerstone, members should find a higher purpose or higher power. We 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 step 11 is not only a maintenance step, but a step rooted in growth. Many of us have heard of the ninth step promises from page 8384 of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa.
Well think now about the man who fi rst uttered the prayer. We asked his protection and care with complete abandon. The twelve step prayers were created using the text of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. First written in 1939, the 4th edition was published in 2001. This is supplemented by some suggestions in brackets. Emotional sobriety and food step 11 inventory 12212014 emotional sobriety and food step 11 inventory 12212014 how to listen to god below are various versions of the pamphlets how to begin practicing quiet time a. In fact, one of the possible names for aa then was, the james club after the book of james from the bible. Whereas step ten kept you mindful of yourself, step eleven changes the focus to god, or your chosen higher power.
God please direct my thinking and keep my thoughts divorced from self pity, dishonest or selfseeking motives. As the step reads it states that we seek through prayer and meditation. Step ten marked the first in a series of what are called maintenance steps, those that you continue working daily. Aa big book 10th step prayer god remove the selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear that has cropped up in my life right now. Morning prayer god, direct my thinking today so that it be empty of self pity, dishonesty, selfwill, selfseeking and fear. God, please help me watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear. This is a sick person, how can i be helpful to him. Morning prayer and meditation given we know that the aa program is contained in the first 164 pages of the big book with further good information in the step essays of the 12 steps and 12 traditions book lets now follow the 2nd half of the prayer and meditation instructions found on pages 86, 87 and 88 of the book alcoholics anonymous.
Step 11 overview 11th step prayer recovery cpnnection. Step four prayer freedom from resentment step 4 of the. I admit that my life is unmanageable when i try to control it. Download pamphlets and handouts to use in big book group sessions our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. There are, however, additional promises in the big book. This is the blue print of the 12 step recovery programs. Whether you believe in a higher power or not, we can probably all agree that love is the highest power around. My hope is that these prayers will provide a framework for you to. Prayer is talking to god and meditation is listening to gods reply. The third step prayer alcoholics anonymous aa meetings. Page 67 of the book, alcoholics anonymous, states, resentment is the number one offender. As such, many people working a 12 step program have used certain prayers in relation to working certain steps or in their daily walk in recovery. In step 11, even an atheist could get in better contact with love, embrace love, and let that love ooze out into humanity.
Step 11 relaxationmeditationprayer steps by the big book. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that i may better do thy will. Please forgive me and help me live thy will better tomorrow. I know that because my failings i was not able to be as effective as i could have been for you. Learning the process of overcoming resentment literally saves the lives of people who are afflicted with the disease of alcoholism. God, grant me the serenity, to accept the things i can not change, courage to change the things i can, and wisdom to know the difference. Dear lord, i admit that i am powerless over my addiction. Steps by the big book step 11 steps by the big book. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those i would help of thy power. Father, i ask that you now show me how to correct the errors i have just outlined.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Addiction recovery, christian 12 steps, 10th step prayers. Alcoholics anonymous aa 12step program as described in the the big book, aas guide for people recovering from alcoholism, has many references to god and religious themes, and step 11 is no different. The eleventh step prayer twelve steps and twelve traditions, p. 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. Prayers from the big book of alcoholics anonymous big.
A blog dedicated to discussion of the program of alcoholics anonymous as found in the twelve and twelve and first 164 pages of the big book alcoholics anonymous. Jennifer a on experience the big book aa meetings available online. Sunday, october 4, 2015 the 11th step prayer the prayer of st. Step eleven 101 in a mood in which we can focus undisturbed on constructive imagination, we might proceed like this. Probably the serenity prayer is most often associated with the 12 step program, but some other prayers that are commonly used are listed here for reference. God, relieve me of this fear and direct my attention to what you would have me be. Alcoholics anonymous is well known for their 12step program that focuses on helping people achieve sobriety, make amends, and improve the quality of their life. Big book of alcoholics anonymous 11th step meditation. Mike on experience the big book aa meetings available online. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it. A person facing this step may not understand what it means, how to apply it in his or her life, or may have shunned religion and. The eleventh step prayers derived from the text found page 86 of alcoholics anonymous the big book.
Twelve step prayers spiritual alcoholics anonymous. Prayers in the big book of alcoholics anonymous concord. In a nutshell, step 11 says to discover the plan god, as you understand him, has for your life and find the power to carry it out. God help me to show this person the same tolerance, pity and patience that i would cheerfully grant a sick friend. Help me to discuss this with someone immediately and make amends quickly if i have harmed anyone. When these crop up in me, help me to immediately ask you to remove them from me and help me discuss these feelings with someone. God, i offer myself to thee to build with me and do with me as thou wilt. An 18 minute session of prayer and contemplation as suggested by the big book of alcoholics anonymous. The text used to develop the prayers are shown at the end of the prayer in parenthesis.
910 1446 1439 776 578 1374 1333 76 678 397 744 1384 302 598 541 124 159 653 608 1361 353 1101 1535 1299 1467 1098 1139 583 551 566 805 190 916