How to Use the Third Step Prayer in AA to Strengthen Your Sobriety

Prayer is an integral part of addiction recovery. Whether you’re a devoted pilgrim or a skeptical atheist, integrating prayer into your routine can accelerate your recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. 

There’s an abundance of research indicating that cultivating a prayerful habit can, indeed, support addiction recovery. According to studies highlighted by the American Psychological Association (APA), praying consistently enables addicts to connect with a higher power and discover a greater sense of purpose. Prayer also encourages self-introspection, a vital component in the journey to total abstinence. 

Even if you feel no spiritual connection, prayer can cultivate a sense of inner peace and hope. Every moment spent reflecting upon your life may help settle with past misdeeds and chart a newer, brighter future. 

Besides, prayer can serve as a positive distraction. It lets you seize control of your thoughts, creating a solid bulwark against menacing alcohol cues. 

This post shall focus on the 3rd Step AA prayer and how to integrate it into your routine.

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What Is The Third Step Prayer?

The third step prayer is one of the prayers created by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the global community where people can freely discuss their drinking problems and tap into actionable advice from former addicts. 

Alcoholics Anonymous maintains a series of addiction recovery programs, most of which are based on spiritual principles. To ensure the success of each program, AA uses a set of prayers and affirmations that addicts can recite to stay resilient in their quest for complete recovery. 

The 3rd step prayer AA is one of Alcoholics Anonymous’ most iconic prayers, with powerful wordings derived from several AA literature. The prayer speaks to an addict’s willingness to surrender fully to a higher power. 

Here’s AA’s 3rd step prayer, verbatim;

“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.”

How to Strengthen Your Sobriety Journey With the Third Step Prayer1. Make It a Daily Habit

Incorporating the third step prayer into your daily programs is the best way to unlock its power. Regardless of how chaotic your routines may be, spare a minute to recite the glorious sentiments of the 3rd step prayer. 

Whisper the wordings unto a divine power as though they’re right there in the room with you. By the end of each prayer, you’ll experience a surge of inspiration that only comes from a higher dimension.

2. Say It in the Morning and Evening

If you’re a recovering alcoholic, there’s no better way to kick-start your morning than by summoning a higher power. 

Saying the third step prayer before stepping out of the house helps reaffirm your resolve to remain sober throughout the day. It’s an acknowledgment that although you’ll encounter alcohol cues, you’re entrusting your ability to fend them off to an omnipotent power. 

Remember to also say the third step prayer in the evening, right before retiring for the night. Seize the opportunity to express gratitude to God for his protection during the passing day as you plead for restful sleep free from drug-related nightmares.  

3. Say It Like You Mean It

Connecting with a higher power requires more than incoherent mumbling. To make the most of the third step of prayer, it’s essential to reflect upon each statement. 

Say the prayer meditatively and with a solemn inflection, as if you were addressing it to God himself. Take the essence of each word to heart, and the universe will grant your wishes. 

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4. Incorporate It Into Your Meditation Routine

It’s almost impossible to discuss alcohol recovery without mentioning meditation. In a 16-week prospective case series designed to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness meditation on alcohol dependence, researchers noted marked improvements in addiction symptoms among the study subjects. 

You can amplify the impact of the third-step prayer by incorporating it into your meditation routine. 

Assume a meditative stance and arrest your thoughts to the present moment. Then, recite each line of the third-step prayer as you control your breathing pattern. In the end, allow a few minutes for reflection as you listen to divine guidance. 

5. Write It Down In Your Journal

Journaling can be remarkably effective for recovering addicts. Besides saying the third step prayer aloud daily, you might also want to jot it down each time. 

Writing down the 3rd step prayer allows you to comprehend the wordings and live by them fully. 

6. Pin It Somewhere

As you go about your daily endeavors, it’s easy to forget the powerful sentiments of the third step prayer. Having no divine support to cling to might cause you to lose your compass and relapse to alcohol. 

Fortunately, you can remain in tune with the 3rd step prayer by pinning it to your office desk or living room wall. 

Position the prayer strategically above your television set or desktop. This way, you can focus on positive thoughts even when alcohol commercials flash onto the screen.  

Final Thoughts

The third step prayer is a demonstration of total surrender to a higher power. It nudges us to relinquish control of our thoughts to a more potent entity, trusting in his unfailing guidance as we journey towards the path of complete abstinence. 

By following the above pointers, you can leverage the 3rd step prayer to surmount every alcohol cue the world throws at you. 

Godspeed on your road to recovery!

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