As I’ve worked my way through the Steps, I’ve come to know some of the prayers associated with certain Steps. But to really work the Step and invite my Higher Power into the action of the Step with me, I’ve found it helpful—and even necessary—to rewrite the prayers in ways to that make them more meaningful to me.
I made just a few changes to the Third Step Prayer, turning the “thees” and “thous” to more approachable “yous” and “yours.” I choose to prayerfully ask that Higher Power “take away my difficulties, that victory over them would bear witness to those I would serve” (not those I would “help”) because serving relies on humility, whereas helping can lead me to feeling superior.
Recently, I’ve done a more thorough working of Step Seven and included a complete re-write of the Seventh Step Prayer, one that speaks to me and helps me approach my Higher Power from a position of humility, asking that my character defects be removed in Higher Power’s own time:
My Adapted-Just-for-Me Seventh Step Prayer
God, you see all the parts of me—
good and bad.
I’m ready to step out of the shadow of shame and
give you all of me.
Remove my defects to make way for the good and useful parts of me
to bring about your will in my life and
in the lives of people I encounter.
Amen.
I don’t really think that my Higher Power cares about the words I use when I pray, but I find that adapting the Step prayers to my own needs and experiences brings me closer to my Higher Power, giving me more strength and hope to share.
—A.M., Indiana USA
