Surrendering In Faith: A Reflection On The 7th Step Prayer
The 7th Step Prayer is a fundamental component of numerous recovery programs, especially those adhering to the 12-step framework of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Having said that, this prayer symbolizes an individual’s humility and readiness to relinquish personal shortcomings while pursuing guidance and fortitude from a transcendent authority.
It sincerely articulates an individual’s aspiration to lead a more fulfilling and significant existence.
Examining the 7th Step Prayer reveals its significant influence and importance in promoting personal development and spiritual connection.
What constitutes the 7th step of prayer?
Although earlier steps in Alcoholics Anonymous are frequently spoken as prayers or mantras, step 7 is the most akin to a religious invocation to God.
It states the following:
“My Creator, I now consent to relinquish all aspects of myself, both virtuous and flawed.” I beseech you to eliminate every character flaw obstructing my utility to you and others. Bestow upon me strength as I go from this place to fulfill your commands. Amen.
Participants who reached step 7 have already formulated their understanding of God or a higher power. Hence, the language employed in the prayer of step 7 should appear less intimidating. The terms “My Creator” and “Amen” align with conventional depictions of a higher power, yet these expressions should be comprehensible to those who possess their interpretations of divinity.
Step Seven and Humility: The Misapprehended Virtue
“Humility constitutes the fundamental basis of all virtues.” – Confucius.
In the context of executing your seventh step, the essence of humility fundamentally pertains to maintaining a rational self-perception. It fundamentally recognizes the reality of your existence and your position in the world. In Alcoholics Anonymous terminology, it refers to the cultivated skill of being “right-sized.”
By respectfully requesting your Higher Power to eliminate your deficiencies, you acknowledge that you are neither excessively significant nor insignificant. Your self-entitlement and grandiosity have vanished, along with your humiliation, regrets, and feelings of unworthiness.
With an engraved 7th Step Prayer plaque by your side, you have initiated your first step towards humility. In the practice of step seven, recovering addicts often observe that humility is not characterized by despair or subservience but rather by tranquility, serenity, and acceptance of “life on life’s terms.”
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions asserts that “the attainment of greater humility is the foundational principle of AA’s twelve steps.” The seventh step of AA presents a continual opportunity to choose humility as a crucial element of maintaining sobriety.
Wishing It, Does Not Make It So: Step Seven Into Action
Engaging in action involves effort. Many of us are resistant to the term “work”; however, the type of job you may refer to here is unrelated to clocking in and enduring an eight-hour shift. Your efforts regarding the stages of Alcoholics Anonymous would eventually entail channeling energy towards discipline and dedication in achieving the objective of sustained sobriety and rehabilitation. Advocating for oneself, exercising patience, and embracing the emotional unease associated with new behaviors need effort.
Recognizing your deficiencies and altering responses requires effort. The greater your awareness of your deficiencies, the more you will realize, “This is reminiscent; when a reaction appears involuntary, it likely indicates a necessity for change. Practicing humility in Step Seven fosters a profound awareness of your humanity and enhances your capacity for self-compassion and empathy towards others.
Implementing Step Seven entails, for instance, purposefully mustering the fortitude to decline a friend’s request when they attempt to manipulate you through guilt or shame, thereby actively engaging in your recovery process. By establishing a boundary, taking a moment to halt when distressed, exercising restraint in speech and writing (crucial for enduring tranquility), and opting not to engage with individuals, environments, and stimuli that provoke you, you are progressing in Step Seven!
Achieving Optimal Size: Step Seven Actions
Achieving equilibrium in Step Seven involves modifying cognitive activities by acknowledging and articulating our emotions. You may progressively integrate various aspects of yourself into a harmonious equilibrium while cultivating new life skills. For specific individuals, a daily regimen of prayer, meditation, and affirmations proves to be highly beneficial.
Below are many actions to assist you in navigating the 7th step:
- In what ways has my comprehension of my higher power evolved?
- In what manner have the preceding six phases equipped me for the seventh step?
- In what manner does recognizing my humility facilitate the process of engaging with the seventh step?
- What is my strategy for requesting that a higher power or God of my understanding eliminate my deficiencies?
- What is the function of the spiritual principle of “surrender” in step seven for me?
- Am I at ease with prayer and meditation, even if it necessitates creating my own?
- Has my perception of perspective or “reality” been distorted recently?
- Have there been instances when I successfully refrained from succumbing to a character flaw and instead adhered to a spiritual principle?
- Have any faults been eliminated from my life or at least decreased in their influence over me?
Affirmations may also be utilized. Below are a few recommendations:
- I embrace my entirety, including the positive and the negative.
- Today, I will create an asset and address one deficiency.
- I will acknowledge my choices and independence today.
In the end!
Incorporating the 7th Step Prayer into your spiritual journey fosters inner peace, healing, and advancement, as it aids in confronting your deficiencies with humility and faith, thus facilitating the dissolution of detrimental habits and the pursuit of a more authentic and compassionate existence.
This prayer requests divine assistance in overcoming personal problems and achieving one’s fullest potential. The 7th Step Prayer serves as a constant reminder of the importance of spiritual surrender and the need for personal growth and renewal as you advance on your journey.
