The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide a foundation for lasting transformation through both structure and spiritual practice. For many, especially Christians, the 11th Step Prayer has become a powerful tool for developing a deeper spiritual connection, enhancing their recovery journey, and finding peace in everyday life.
The 11th Step reads:
“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
This step calls us to grow spiritually through consistent prayer, meditation, and surrender to a Higher Power’s will. For Christians, this Higher Power is the Lord Himself. The 11th Step Prayer, often known as the Saint Francis Prayer, beautifully echoes biblical truths and offers a pathway to healing that leads not just to sobriety, but to eternal life.
Get Help Today
Help and healing are possible through our Christian rehab programs.
If you are ready to take the next step and learn more about how a Christian rehab center can aid in your recovery, feel free to reach out to us at any time.
Understanding the Eleventh Step Prayer
The Eleventh Step Prayer is a timeless spiritual petition that focuses on becoming a vessel of God’s love, truth, and peace. It reads:
“Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace—
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted,
to understand than to be understood,
to love than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds,
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven,
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.”
This step prayer reflects the heart of Christian beliefs: service over self, truth over ego, love over control, and surrender over self-will. It encourages individuals to align their daily life with the teachings of Christ and walk a spiritual path toward healing and spiritual awakening.
The Christian Message in the 11th Step Prayer
The 11th Step Prayer mirrors biblical values and offers a framework for spiritual growth and freedom in addiction recovery:
“Channel of Thy Peace”
Jesus called us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). To be a channel of Thy peace means to let God’s peace and grace flow through us into our relationships, environments, and thoughts.
Bringing Love, Forgiveness, and Harmony
Just as Christ loved and forgave those who wronged Him, we’re invited to bring love where there is hatred and forgiveness where there is injury (Matthew 5:44, 6:14). These values help bring harmony into the lives of others and nurture inner peace within ourselves.
Carrying Truth, Faith, Hope, and Light
The prayer’s commitment to bring truth, bring faith, bring hope, and bring light speaks to our mission as Christians to reflect God’s goodness in a hurting world (John 8:32, Matthew 5:14).
Letting Go of Self Through Service
Choosing to comfort others, to understand rather than to be understood, is the essence of self-forgetting. It reflects Christ’s humility and the surrender necessary for true spiritual connection and growth (Philippians 2:3-4).
Integrating the Eleventh Step Prayer into Christian Recovery
Whether you’re new to the Twelve Steps or well into your own recovery, the 11th Step Prayer can become a cornerstone of your daily routine. Here are a few ways to incorporate it:
Start Each Day with Prayer and Meditation
Begin your mornings with the step prayer followed by quiet meditation. Let the words guide your day and shape your conscious contact with God. Reflect on what it means to surrender to God’s will and allow His healing energy to direct your actions.
Use Scripture to Deepen Meaning
Pair the prayer with Bible verses about faith, joy, hope, and spiritual growth. Let God’s Word provide guidance and deepen your awareness of His life-giving truths.
Journaling and Reflection
Write down moments throughout your daily life when you lived out the prayer—when you chose to bring joy, sow love, or remain steadfast in temptation. Journaling creates space to recognize God’s healing hand in your life.
Group Prayer and Fellowship
Practice the 11th Step Prayer in community. Whether in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, small groups, or church gatherings, praying together reinforces your spiritual connection with others and with God.
Acts of Service
Live the prayer by stepping into opportunities to serve. Whether through church ministry, recovery sponsorship, or acts of kindness, serving others is the most tangible way to align with thy peace and thy love.
LINKS: A Faith-Based Path Toward Spiritual Sobriety
If you’re seeking addiction recovery that nurtures your spirit, honors your faith, and guides you back to a Christ-centered life, the LINKS program can help.
LINKS is the Christian track at renowned Northbound Treatment Center in Orange County, CA. We offer evidence-based and holistic care for those seeking recovery from drug and alcohol addiction that’s grounded in God, prayer, and the teachings of Christ. Our team is here to support your healing through:
Biblically grounded therapy and step prayer integration
Tools to develop conscious contact and grow in spiritual practice
Daily support for surrendering self-will and seeking God’s will
A Christ-centered environment where you can find hope, bring joy, and pursue eternal life
If you’re ready to begin your recovery journey, or if you want to experience thy peace and the life God has for you, we invite you to call our admissions team today. You don’t have to walk this path alone.
Help and healing are possible through Christian recovery.
Call LINKS at (866) 434-1330. Let the 11th Step Prayer become part of your healing—and the beginning of your walk with Christ.
Get Help Today
Help and healing are possible through our Christian rehab programs.
If you are ready to take the next step and learn more about how a Christian rehab center can aid in your recovery, feel free to reach out to us at any time.
