The AA Step One Prayer: The Powerless Paradox

The AA Step One Prayer - Icarus Behavioral Health

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Details on the Nature of the Step 1 Prayer in Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous has been providing help and support for people in addiction recovery since 1939. Their proven Twelve Step prayers are an important part of the healing process, but it all starts with the very first prayer. Why does the AA Step One prayer matter so much in the grand scheme of recovery?

The First Step prayer (“Heavenly Father, I admit that I’m powerless over my addiction”) is important for surrendering an addiction to a Higher Power. It indicates a reliance on the power of a God rather than on self-reliance. The prayer allows other group members to bear witness to a transformative journey.

Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada can help you connect with local Twelve Step groups where you can leverage these prayers and steps. Our program offers peer support groups to help you turn away from active addiction and start on the road to recovery.

Here’s what you should know about the Step One prayer and how it fits into the other AA prayers.

What is the AA Step One Prayer for Spiritual Awakening?

Before we dive into the nature of the Step One prayer from the Alcoholics Anonymous framework, let’s take a moment to review the words you might actually say. This prayer comes before a fearless moral inventory and indicates a sign of spiritual progress before you can dive any deeper.

The prayer goes like this:

I admit that I’m powerless over my addiction. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it. Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my addiction.

You may see variations of this prayer that ask for your higher power to lend you the help of thy power or assistance in walking in thy way of life or love. Customize this prayer to suit only you, meaning spiritual awakening continues as you pray.

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Why Does the Step One Prayer Matter in Spiritual Progress?

Committing to a new way of life without addictive behavior is fraught with challenges, but the proven process of Alcoholics Anonymous can help you navigate recovery. This initial prayer may seem like minimal progress is being made, but it’s actually a crucial step.

Reliance on Thy Power (Not Mine)

The first reason that these step prayers indicate growth is because they indicate that you’re turning an addiction over to a new way of life. There’s much more going on here than a step prayer. “Dear Lord” is commonly the entry point to these prayers because you can only do so much in your own strength and power.

A step prayer suggests that you will let go of your will. Higher Power entities can instead be trusted to care for you in the transition. Any problems that you come up against in your treatment are turned over to this power (whether you choose to call it God or something else). There’s a reliance on “thy power” and not mine.

Allowing Others to Bear Witness to Your Recovery

Your step prayer also allows others to bear witness to your recovery efforts. A sponsor and even the other members of your local AA chapter will know that you’re working the steps. Based on where you profess to be, they can help hold you accountable to the gains you have made and prayers you have prayed.

Peer support groups are proven to have far-reaching benefits for those in recovery. They increase your engagement in treatment and minimize the risk of substance abuse and associated risks. The more you let other people into your journey, the more they can help you.

Admitting the Nature of Your Addiction

Why pray the step prayer? God can only help you when you admit that you’re ready to take those first steps toward recovery. If you’re not convinced that your life has indeed become unmanageable, you’re not likely to stick with AA, one-on-one counseling, or any other form of treatment.

This is when you take a step away from self-will and instead start to embrace a power greater than your addiction. It takes substance use from the background to the foreground, where you can cope with it in a healthier way.

This also offers you the chance to be realistic about addiction instead of giving in to wishful thinking. It can be tempting to bury your head in the sand and ignore the signs of being out of control, but praying invites meditative reflection and offers a chance to correct mistakes.

Mitigating Self-Defeating Attitudes

While some of the later AA prayers are more attuned to helping you move beyond the destruction of a substance use issue, they all help you mitigate self-defeating attitudes. You don’t have to wait until you get to the Sixth Step prayer or even the Twelfth Step prayer to change your mindset.

The very First Step enables you to take responsibility and offers a daily prayer to turn back to whenever you feel helpless. All of this also makes good ‘grist for the mill’ in terms of AA meeting topics that can drive conversations even old-times can appreciate.

The truth is that you might really be powerless over your addiction if it has been going on for some time. Admitting this daily and recommitting to working the program, improving relationships, and improving your life one step at a time is essential. It’s good for mental health, not just a gateway to eternal life apart from this sinful world.

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Where Can You Access Twelve Step Programs?

Are you ready to embrace this first prayer and work the Twelve Steps in AA? Research shows that your participation in AA improves existential and subjective well-being, increasing positive affect while also decreasing negative affect. In other words, you feel better when you keep coming back.

But where can you locate an AA meeting that you can rely on?

Local Chapters of AA

Finding a local chapter of AA could be as easy as navigating to their website and selecting the best day and time for you. However, some people will need more intensive help at first, which is where Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada can help.

Peer Support Groups and Addiction Recovery

Our treatment program starts with a sub-acute detox on-site, or medical detox through local partner facilities, where we can make sure you’re comfortable and safe as the alcohol leaves your system. We’ll ensure that you have 24/7 medical supervision and can leverage prescription medication to alleviate initial detox symptoms.

From here, Icarus Nevada offers residential treatment and intensive outpatient care, depending on your needs. Both grant you access to on-campus individual counseling, group therapy, and peer support groups, including Twelve Step meetings like AA.

Our team walks with you every step of the way. No two treatment plans ever look the same, as we offer the customized treatment needed to help you.

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Let Us Answer Your Questions at Icarus Behavioral Health in Nevada

When you’re ready to surrender to treatment and the healing process, Icarus Behavioral Health comes alongside you for intensive care. Our enrollment team is available to answer your questions and verify your insurance benefits in a quick, confidential call. Insurance may cover your treatment, depending on the provider and plan.

Let us help you take the first step and walk with you as you pray the First Step prayer. Contact us today for more information on our treatment programs and to find a firm foundation for sobriety that can help you succeed in the NA or AA program.

The AA Step One Prayer: The Powerless Paradox