Summary of Third Step Prayer
- What is the modern version of Step 3 prayer?
- What is the full sobriety prayer?
- How to rewrite the 3rd step prayer?
- What does step three in prayer mean?
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AI Overview
AI Overview
The 3rd Step Prayer, found on page 63 of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, is a pivotal, voluntary declaration of surrender, where members offer their will and lives to a higher power to overcome addiction. It focuses on relieving self-bondage, seeking guidance, and removing difficulties to better serve others.
Key Elements and Purpose
Surrender & Trust: The prayer marks the shift from relying on self-will to trusting a Higher Power, often summarized as “letting go and letting God”.
Purpose: It is designed to remove the “bondage of self,” reduce fear, and foster humility to help the individual stay sober and be useful to others.
Core Text:
“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!”
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Usage in Alcoholics Anonymous
Context: It is the action-oriented prayer for Step 3 (“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him”).
Practice: While often said with a sponsor or friend, it is fundamentally a personal, daily, or moment-to-moment commitment.
Flexibility: The exact wording is optional, provided the intent of surrendering self-will is maintained.
Variations and Interpretations
Other Programs: Similar versions exist in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Debtors Anonymous (DA), often focusing on releasing control and overcoming specific compulsive behaviors.
Interpretation: It is seen as a way to “get out of our own way” and accept that recovery is not a solo mission.
How Alcoholics Anonymous Third Step Prayer Works
Incorporating the Third Step Prayer into your daily life is a personal journey. It’s important to find what resonates with you and…
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The Third Step Prayer
From page 63 of Alcoholics Anonymous – the Big Book: We were now at Step Three. Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him…
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DA 3rd Step prayer – Southern California Debtors Anonymous
Higher Power, I stand before you ready to be transformed. I place myself in your hands. Guide me on my recovery path. Remove my co…
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Third Step Prayer
Life the gift of recovery!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
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!
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!
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fluttering About
Posts: 3,760
Another 3rd
Thanks nandm
someone sent me this :
“I surrender to you all that I am, all that I think, all that I feel. and all that I have,
I recognize in this moment that Yours is the Power to heal and make whole.
You who have the power to work miracles.
You who rule time and space, please take me in your arms and hold me and guide me. Let my thoguths be Your thoguhts…My words be Your words.
Teach me and show me how to live and act differently.
Thank you . Thank you for the opporuntity to learn and grow. Thank you for Your loving compassion and forgiveness. Open my eyes. and my mind ..that I may see how to be of service…open my mouth that I may speak in love and tolerance…Open my ears that I may hear Your voice. Open my heart that Your love flows through to all I meet today. Guide my steps that I may walk only in your light. Teach me how to walk that others may see You and Your love and in that spark the flame of hope that they too will journey with us together. Your will be done. Amen.”
someone sent me this :
“I surrender to you all that I am, all that I think, all that I feel. and all that I have,
I recognize in this moment that Yours is the Power to heal and make whole.
You who have the power to work miracles.
You who rule time and space, please take me in your arms and hold me and guide me. Let my thoguths be Your thoguhts…My words be Your words.
Teach me and show me how to live and act differently.
Thank you . Thank you for the opporuntity to learn and grow. Thank you for Your loving compassion and forgiveness. Open my eyes. and my mind ..that I may see how to be of service…open my mouth that I may speak in love and tolerance…Open my ears that I may hear Your voice. Open my heart that Your love flows through to all I meet today. Guide my steps that I may walk only in your light. Teach me how to walk that others may see You and Your love and in that spark the flame of hope that they too will journey with us together. Your will be done. Amen.”
fearless_and_thorough_in_ SoDak
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Posts: 17
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!
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!
I do enjoy the fact that this prayer already tells me what my main goal in recovery is… bearing witness. what a powerful thing for people like me!
this step could have little permanent effect unless at once (at this point id just like to mention that when i grabbed my book so i could properly quote this passage… i opened DIRECTLY up to the page its on… NEAT!) followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in our lives which had been blocking us…
dear god,
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: atlanta georgi
Posts: 7
day three prayer is sooooo refreshing…i was so tempted to smoke marijuana but I pull out my bible last night and prayed and it helped a lot….i am on day 3 of no drinking or smoking marijuana…..ive learned I cant just stop one thing I have to stop EVERYTHING…the devil is always lurking on those who are trying to stop…he put so many obstacles in the way to prevent you from bettering yourself with god..i thank god for my inner strength that i didnt know I had
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