One of the most effective and transformational prayers in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) literature is the 3 Step Prayer. This prayer is based on humility and surrender and allows a believer to drop self-will and entrust his or her life fully to the will of God.
It is not merely a piece of writing in the Big Book, but a spiritual point of departure, a deliberate choice of living in accordance with the will of God, not with self or with fright.
What Is the 3 Step Prayer?
The 3rd Step Prayer is found in the book, Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and on page 63, in Step Three of the Twelve Steps. It reads:
God, I give myself to thee – to be with me, to make with me, as Thou wilt.
Disillusion me of the slavery of myself, That I may the more do Thy will.
Take away my hardships, that triumph against them may be witnessed.
to them I should minister of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy always.”
It is a prayer given to those who attain the third step in the recovery process and the process that symbolizes when they make a conscious choice of giving their will and their lives into the hands of God as they understand him.
The Intention of the 3 Step Prayer.
The essence of the 3rd Step Prayer is surrender. Step 1 and Step 2 in the AA philosophy deal with powerless admissions and identifying with a Higher Power. Step 3 is however, where the faith comes in, the stage where an individual takes the commitment to follow the will of God as opposed to their own will.
Every word in the prayer is highly spiritual:
“God, I offer myself to Thee”
This is the line that symbolizes submission. It is a kind of personal statement of being ready to have God direct one in his/her life.
“Get me out of the slavery of self.
The literature of AA tends to explain that self-centeredness is the cause of addiction and misery. In this case, the person wants to be free of selfishness and ego, the internal bonds that prevent spiritual development.
“Take away my difficulties”
It is not just a demand to have an easy life. It is a cry of need to be strong and ask God to assist him/her to get through the tribulations of life in a manner that brings glory to God and makes others feel encouraged.
“May I do Thy will always”
This last line is one of lifetime dedication – not a promise made here and now. It admits the fact that recovery and peace are based on the spiritual connection with the will of God.
The Spiritual Significance in Recovery.
The 3rd Step Prayer is a spiritual awakening to many in AA. It changes emphasis towards control, to trust, towards fear, to faith. It is by saying this prayer that the members make their own agendas consciously dismissed and submit themselves to the direction of God.
This is courage and not a sign of weakness. The feeling that I cannot do this by myself is the invitation of the divine power in the heart of a person– the first step toward the healing process.
Humility, gratitude, and compassion are other virtues that are developed during the prayer and are necessary to recover in the long run. It preaches that change does not come by means of force of will but through identification with something bigger than oneself.
Relationship between the 3 step prayer and the twelve steps.
The Twelve Steps of AA are a spiritual program, and Step Three is one of its foundations. It is through this act of giving in that further progress in the following steps becomes a challenge.
In Step 1, one must accept that he/she is powerless concerning alcohol; in Step 2, it is possible to believe that a Higher Power can bring sanity back.
That belief is then acted upon Step 3 the decision to put oneself in the care of God.
The prayer thus serves as a transition between faith and action, making the soul ready for self-inventory, confession, and amends which will occur in Steps Four through Nine.
3 Step prayer in Daily life.
Although the members of the AA tend to repeat the 3 Step Prayer in meetings or when they are being sponsored, the use of the prayer is not limited to recovery. Its message can be useful to any person experiencing emotional, spiritual, or even moral challenges.
The following are practical uses in applying it in our daily life:
1. Morning Meditation
Begin your day by prayer. It brings your heart to focus and forms a goal of moving with Godly guidance rather than having fear or pride yourself.
2. During Moments of Stress
In case of anxiety or temptation, repeat the prayer. It can assist in redirecting the attention to the problem to the existence of God.
3. Evening Reflection
Close day by day contemplating the extent to which you have adhered to the will of God. This creates self-knowledge and enhances spiritual discipline.
4. Writing or Journaling
Most people who are in the process of recovery maintain a journal of their surrender experience and divine assistance, known as the 3 Step Journal.
Psychological Perspective- The Power of Letting Go.
Psychologically, giving in to a Higher Power will lessen the stress and will aid in achieving emotional equilibrium. The 3 step prayer can be related to cognitive-behavioral theory: acceptance, mindfulness, and re-evaluation of negative ways of thinking.
The prayer promotes trust, as opposed to only having to use personal control, which promotes peace and resilience. This process assists people to shift the guilt and shame to forgiveness and a purpose which is essential in the recovery of the emotions.
The Faith Community Factor.
The 3 Step Prayer is often incorporated into the general talk on dependence on God in churches, faith-based recovery groups, and spiritual counselors. Its message is not limited to AA but any Christian, Muslim, and human being of any religion can relate to its main idea, which is giving self to the will of God.
This generality renders prayer one of the most generalized spiritual means in contemporary recovery books.
Historical Reference: Origins in the Big Book.
Originally authored by Bill W. (William Griffith Wilson), one of the co-founders of the Alcoholic Anonymous, the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was first printed in 1939. The 3 Step Prayer was added as a guide to the one who are attending the twelve steps.
The language is religious, in a humble, reverent, God-centered way of the early 20th century in America. But throughout the decades, its message has touched millions of people as everlasting and capable of molding to any individual interpretation of a Higher Power.
3 Step Prayer and Self-transformation.
Surrendering to spirituality results in changes. When an individual supplicates earnestly to be liberated out of the slavery of self, he welcomes fresh consciousness in his/her life. Ego, fear, resentment and pride slowly run out of control.
The change that this prayer brings does not require anything external but rather internal awakening – closer relationship with purpose and better knowledge of how God wants them to be.
General Fallacies of the 3 step prayer.
It’s only for alcoholics:
False – the prayer can lead anyone who wants spiritual power and humility.
It requires a religious conformity:
Mythical — AA says to be God as we know Him, and everyone has his/her concept of divinity.
It guarantees instant peace:
False, this is a gradual process of spiritual growth; peace follows regular practice and faith.
Advantages of the 3 Step Prayer.
Fosters modesty and spiritual sanity.
Minimizes selfish thinking.
Increases emotional stability.
Enhances relationship with God.
Promotes care and service to others.
Develops resilience in the long-term against relapse/despair.
Contemporary Applicability of the 3 Step Prayer.
The surrender message is counter-cultural in an age of digital distraction and self-reliance, but is so deeply desired. The prayer challenges people to calm down, get to know themselves and come back to spiritual reality.
It is not confined to the recovery of addicts, but it can be applied by every single person that wants to find meaning, peace, and orientation to the divine purpose.
Real-Life Testimonies
Lots of those who are in the recovery process say that it is the 3 Step Prayer that was their anchor during the worst of the times. Newcomers are usually invited by their sponsors to memorize it and to use it daily.
There are those who say that they experience relief at once, and some who say that they experience gradual change, a sense of steady calmness, which increases with repetition. In any event, prayer turns out to be a covenant of trust with God personally.
References
Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women have Recovered Alcoholism (The Big Book).
W. Bill and Dr. Bob, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
The official literature of AA.org regarding Step Three and spiritual surrender.
Hazelden Publishing, The Third Step and Letting Go of Self-Will (2020)
Conclusion
The 3 Step Prayer was a classic statement of faith, humility, and subjection. It reminds all the believers, in recovery or just in the difficulties of living life, that their peace and strength are not found in control, but in trusting God.
The recitation of these sacred words helps us to change our will to the will of God as grace takes center stage. The 3 Step prayer is not a recovery tool; it is an invitation to live a life that is directed by spiritual truth, love and purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. In which page in the AA Big book is the 3 Step prayer?
It is written on page 63 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Q2. Who wrote the 3 Step Prayer?
It was authored by one of the AA co-founders, Bill Wilson.
Q3. What is the 3 Step prayer?
It is giving up the will and life to the care of God and trying to get out of selfishness.
Q4. Is the 3 Step Prayer open to non-AA members?
It is, yes, free to anybody seeking spiritual development or peace.
Q5. What is the frequency of the 3 step prayer?
It is allowed to be repeated on a daily basis particularly in the morning hours or when one is in distress.
