God.....grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change...
Courage to change the things i can
and the Wisdom to know the Difference
Serenity Prayer--Long Version
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me
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.
**Reinhold Niebuhr**
A prayer for each of the 12 steps ~First Step Prayer~
Dear Lord,
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.
~Second Step Prayer~
Heavenly Father,
I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity.
I humbly ask that you remove all twisted thought and
addictive behavior from me this day.
Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind.
~Third Step Prayer~
(Page 63 - A. A. Big Book)
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!
~Fourth Step Prayer~
Dear God,
It is I who have made my life a mess.
I have done it, but 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.
~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 do it.
~Sixth Step Prayer~
Dear God,
I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character
which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery.
Help me to continue being honest with myself
and guide me toward spiritual and mental health.
~Seventh Step Prayer~
(Page 76 - A. A. Big Book)
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
stands 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
~Eighth Step Prayer~
Higher Power,
I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed.
I will take responsibility for my mistakes,
and be forgiving to others as You are forgiving to me.
Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution.
This I pray.
~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.
~Tenth Step Prayer~
I pray I may 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.
~Eleventh Step Prayer~
Higher Power,
As I understand You,
I pray to keep my connection with You open and
clear from the confusion of daily life.
Through my prayers and meditation 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.
~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 every day.
This is a better way to live.
St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me the instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred--let me sow love
Where there is injury--pardon
Where there is doubt--faith
Where there is despair--hope
Where there is darkness--light
and where there is sadness--joy
O Divine Master
grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled--as to console
To be understood--as to understand
To be loved--as to love
For
It is in giving--that we receive
It is in pardoning--that we are pardoned
It is in dying--that we are born to eternal life