12 Steps, 12 Prayers

Most people working the steps have heard the Serenity Prayer. If you've been around awhile, you start to get familiar with the Third Step Prayer and maybe you eventually hear the Seventh Step and Eleventh Step Prayers. But there are prayers for all 12 steps!

I have these printed out and pasted on the inside cover of my daily journal, along with a bunch of other prayers for specific occasions which will be coming in another post.

As I've grown in program, I do more and more off-the-cuff and personal prayer, but for years, I just recited the program prayers because I didn't know how to pray. I still resort to these at certain times.

 Here are the Overeaters Anonymous version of all the step prayers.

(NB: these are all OA-approved literature, and I got them off the OA Silicon Valley website, though I did take the liberty of changing some "Dear Lords" to "Dear Gods" in order to be more inclusive.)

First Step Prayer

I admit that I am powerless over my food 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.

Alternate First Step Prayer

Today, I ask for help with my food addiction.
Denial has kept me from seeing how powerless I am and how my life is unmanageable.
I need to learn & remember that I have an incurable illness and that abstinence is the only way to deal with it.

Second Step Prayer

God, 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.

Alternate Second Step Prayer

I pray for an open mind so I may come to believe in a power greater than myself. I pray for humility and the continued opportunity to increase my faith. I don't want to be crazy any more.

Third Step Prayer

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!

Third Step Prayer, Simplified

Take my will and my life,
Guide me in my recovery,
Show me how to live.

Fourth Step Prayer

Dear God, it is I who has 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

God, 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 will do it.

Sixth Step Prayer

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

God, 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.

Eighth Step Prayer

God, 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

God, 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 importantly, 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 and my fellows.

Eleventh Step Prayer

God, 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 & positive action. Your will, 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.

This blog is part of my twelfth step work. I hope they are helpful to you, but the truth is that it's helped me to revisit these today.