The journey to sobriety isn’t just about letting go of alcohol or drugs—it’s about surrendering control, releasing old ideas, and learning to walk a new path. For many in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Set Aside Prayer becomes a transformative tool to do just that. This prayer is a powerful way to begin anew with an open mind, free from preconceived beliefs that may have once blocked spiritual growth or emotional healing.
What Is the Set Aside Prayer?
Often used alongside the Serenity Prayer, the Set Aside Prayer is not official AA literature, but it has become a beloved and widely embraced tool for many on the path to recovery. Its purpose is simple: to help us let go of all these things—our lifelong conceptions, our seeming inability to change, and our resistance to the idea of a power greater than ourselves.
Here’s a version of the prayer:
“Dear God, please help me set aside everything I think I know about myself, my disease, the Twelve Steps, and especially You, dear God, so that I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me to see the truth.”
By praying these words, we begin to set aside not only our addiction but our self-will, our stubbornness, and our unreasoning prejudice. It allows us to loosen our grip on the tedious process of controlling life and begin trusting in something greater.
Why the Set Aside Prayer Matters in Recovery
Addiction doesn’t just impact our physical health. It distorts our thinking, traps us in shame, and convinces us that we are beyond hope. The Set Aside Prayer helps us break through that spiritual fog.
It opens the door to even a willingness to believe in a higher power
It helps those who may have been deterred by spiritual terms or organized religion
It creates space to explore faith without pressure to fully define what belief should look like
It invites a new understanding beyond several lifelong conceptions
This prayer is often the beginning of a personal, heart-led journey—a shift from trying to figure it all out, to learning how to listen, trust, and walk forward in faith.
For Those Hurt by Religion or Struggling with Faith
We understand that spiritual terms deter some people from seeking help, especially if past experiences with organized religion have led to pain, confusion, or rejection. But the Set Aside Prayer gently reminds us that we don’t need all the answers—we just need an open mind and the courage to set aside everything I think I know and try again.
Even if the twelve steps or the idea of a higher power once felt like a dubious path, this prayer can help you take the first step toward healing with humility and grace.
How LINKS Can Help
At LINKS, the Christian Tract of Northbound Treatment Network, we understand that spiritual healing is often the missing piece in someone’s own recovery journey. We’re here to offer compassionate care that honors your story and helps you reconnect with your Higher Power—in a way that feels authentic and personal.
We support our clients through:
Spiritually integrated addiction treatment guided by the love of Jesus Christ
Safe spaces to explore faith without pressure to conform to lifelong conceptions
Group and individual therapy rooted in Scripture and clinical best practices
Recovery programs that include prayer, mentorship, and fellowship
Whether you’re struggling with alcoholics anonymous concepts, feeling stuck in self-will, or unsure how to trust again, LINKS meets you where you are. We help you see the truth about your worth, your purpose, and the God who’s been walking beside you all along.
Let the Set Aside Prayer Be Your New Beginning
If you’re ready to move past fear, confusion, and preconceived beliefs, start with this prayer. Let go. Trust God. And know that even a willingness to try is enough to begin.
“Dear God, please help me set aside everything I think I know… so I may have a new experience with all these things.”
At LINKS, we believe that with God’s help, anyone can finally beat addiction—and build a life anchored in hope.
Reach out to us today to learn how LINKS can support you or a loved one through a spiritually grounded, clinically sound recovery journey.