Praying in Recovery
Praying is a healthy habit to add to your routine, and is often recommended by sponsors and people in 12-step programs of recovery. Even if you do not believe in God, you can pray to whatever person, place, or thing you have chosen to be your higher power.Rules for Prayer
There is no limitation for praying. You can pray as often as you may like, for as long as you like, to whoever or whatever you like. Praying is a spiritual experience, whether you are physically speaking a prayer or silently praying. We find that many prayers are inspiring words that help you on your journey of addiction recovery.How We Used to Pray
Often, people in recovery recall praying when they were addicted to drugs or alcohol. The prayers usually sounded something like “please let this work out,” “please let my dealer answer,” “please let me get high just one last time,” “please let me score this”. Alcohol and drug addiction will hijack your brain, and really make all of your thoughts and behaviors revolve around using drugs or alcohol above all else. While our prayers were once pleas for the next fix, that begins to change in recovery. As we enter a drug rehab program, our substance use disorder can finally take a seat— we now begin praying with true meaning for true meaning. Our daily prayers will transform the way we think and feel. With a clear, sober mind, we are no longer obsessed with drug abuse. Now, we are able to pray with gratitude for the opportunity to change our lives.Praying to A Higher Power
As you seek support from others, prayer can be a powerful tool in finding strength during recovery. Praying allows for a deeper connection with yourself and a higher power, providing comfort and guidance when you needed most. At Royal Life Centers, we support all religions and all forms of spirituality, as long as the methods of spirituality are not physically or emotionally harmful to yourself or others. One of our goals is to allow guests to explore themselves, and in turn, develop a connection with a higher power of their own choice. We have seen the power of spiritual growth wash over many of our guests over the years, and we believe in the power of healthy relationships with a higher power.What Is A Higher Power?
A higher power is a power greater than yourself. Some examples of higher powers you can choose to pray to include:- A spiritual entity (God, Allah, Buddha, etc)
- The collective wisdom of mankind
- Mother Nature or the universe
- The sun or the moon
- The earth or the ocean
- A loved one who has passed
20 Prayers for Addiction Recovery
Praying in addiction recovery doesn’t have to leave you stumped. If you are having trouble figuring out how to pray, or what to say when you pray, we have put together a list of 20 recovery-friendly prayers for you. Note: Feel free to swap the [bracketed] portions to suit how you would like to address your higher power. Here are 20 prayers for addiction recovery:-
Dear [Higher Power]...
Thank you for keeping me sober another day. I pray only for the knowledge of your will for me, and the power to carry that out. I pray that you keep me sober again tomorrow.
-
The Serenity Prayer
[God], grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference -
Dear Lord of Mercy and Father of Comfort…
Dear [Lord], I ask you to turn this weakness into strength,
this suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy,
and pain into comfort for others.
May I trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness,
even in the middle of this struggle.
Fill me with patience and joy in your presence
as I breathe in your healing life. -
St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer
[Lord], make me an instrument of Thy 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. -
The 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! -
James 1:12-15
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life,
which God has promised to those who love him.
Let no one say when he is tempted,
“I am being tempted by God,”
for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. -
Eyes of Mercy
[Lord], look upon me with eyes of mercy.
May Your healing hand rest upon me,
may Your life-giving powers flow into every cell of my body
and into the depths of my soul,
cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength. -
In the Comfort of your Love
In the comfort of your love, I lay before you
the memories that haunt me,
the anxieties that perplex me,
the despair that frightens me,
and my frustration at my inability to think clearly.
Help me to discover your forgiveness in my memories and know your peace in my distress.
Touch me, [O Lord], and fill me with your light and your hope. -
Cleanse
“I cleanse myself of all
selfishness, resentment, critical feelings for my fellow beings, self-condemnation,
and misinterpretation of my life experiences.
I bathe myself in generosity, appreciation, praise and gratitude for my fellow beings,
self-acceptance, and enlightened understanding of my life experiences”
— Lidia Frederico -
I Believe
I know that the first step in all spiritual healing is to believe.
I believe!
I open my mind and heart believing in your infinite power and possibility.
I believe that healing is a dynamic and reachable experience,
a reality that can be experienced right now.
I maintain a patient and loving attitude,
for I believe that your healing activity is now at work in my mind and body.
I look forward, with joyful expectation, to the perfect wholeness
that you are now bringing into manifestation through me.
I believe in your constant expression of perfect good in and through me.
I rest in the certainty of your healing power.
I know that with you all things are possible. -
Surrender
...I surrender to you my past, present, and future problems.
I ask You to take hold over every aspect of my life.
I surrender to You all my hurt, pain, worry, doubt, fear, and anxiety,
and I ask You to wash me clean.
I release everything into Your compassionate care.
Please speak to me clearly, [Lord].
Open my ears to hear Your voice.
Open my heart to commune with You more deeply.
I want to feel Your loving embrace.
Open the doors that need to be opened and close the doors that need to be closed.
Please set my feet upon the straight and narrow road that leads to everlasting life. -
May I
May my heart be gentle
My mind still and open
My spirit unshackled
My awareness keen
My conscience clear
My nature giving
May I be a healing energy
May I be of benefit to all
May my life enrich others
May i know what matters
And live in harmony with nature. -
Change Pain into Love
Dull the pain with Your love.
Blur the sharp edges by reminding me that from bad comes good.
Help me appreciate that after the sorrow, joy is sweeter.
I look forward to better times. I can endure anything
with You by my side -
Strength by P.C. Cast
"Give me strength,
not to be better than my enemies,
but to defeat my greatest enemy, the doubts within myself.
Give me strength for a straight back and clear eyes,
so when life fades, as the setting sun, my spirit may come to you without shame.”
— P.C. Cast -
Please Give
Give me the patience to be compassionate and helpful toward others and myself, and to know when it is best to remain quiet.
Give me the clarity to be grateful for all that I have,
and to realize when I have something to give to others.
Give me the capacity to love and forgive others,
especially the ones who have wronged me.
Give me the serenity to find happiness and peace in each day. -
Bless Me
Please [Higher Power], bless me. Please forgive my sins and help me to be a better person.
Please infuse my mind, heart, body and soul with Your Divine Energy. Help my body to have only happy healthy cells and Your Divine Energy. Please help my mind to be healed and whole. Please help my bones, teeth and backbone to be dense, strong and solid; help my veins and artery interiors to be round, smooth, clean, clear and flexible.
Please continue to reveal to me the true nature of the Universe and my place in it.
Thank you for all of the wonderful things in my life, please keep them coming to me. -
The Knots Prayer
Please untie the knots
that are in my mind, my heart, and my life.
Remove the have-nots, the can-nots, and the do-nots that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart.
Release me from the could-nots, would-nots, and should-nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all,
I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart, and my life
all of the 'am nots'
that I have allowed to hold me back
especially the thought
that I am not good enough. -
Cleansing Prayer
I am now choosing to cleanse myself
and release any and all thought forms, beings, situations and energies that are no longer of service to my highest and greatest good...
across all planes of my existence, across all universes, and across all lifetimes.
I ask that all energies that are less than love be trasmuted for the highest good of all
and so it is. -
Prayer for Sleep
[Goddess above, queen of the night] help me sleep in your healing light.
Restful sleep, come to me,
Relax my body and let my mind be free.
Grant me calm and peace tonight,
And let me wake in the [God's] golden light. -
The Recovery Prayer
"Today, I heal my body, my mind, my spirit, my life. Drugs are a part of my past; they are not part of my now, they are not part of my future. Today, I am clean. Today, I am clean and free.
Today, I am becoming strong one second at a time, on thought at a time, one action at a time. I am learning how to live and to be the best parts of me today. Today, I am clean and free."
— Abby Willowroot
Praying For Strength in Recovery
Praying for strength in recovery may seem like a daunting task, especially when you’re struggling with addiction. However, it’s important to remember that recovery is possible and that there are people who care and want to help.
To find hope in this journey, you can also connect with others who have gone through similar experiences. Support groups, whether online or in person, allow individuals to share their struggles and successes while also offering encouragement and understanding.
By deepening your connection to the recovery community, you can uplift yourself and others through prayer and positive affirmations. These practices can help you refocus your thoughts and find inner peace in challenging times throughout your recovery.
Reach Out To Us
If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction, please reach out to our specialists at (877)-RECOVERY or (877)-732-6837. Our team of addiction specialists is available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because We Care.