The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide both a structured and spiritual approach to overcoming addiction—one that’s helped countless people worldwide find peace, purpose, and recovery.
The Eleventh Step emphasizes the importance of spiritual practice and connection with a higher power. For Christians, the Eleventh Step Prayer offers profound insights that resonate deeply with our faith. This article explores the Eleventh Step Prayer and its alignment with the Christian message, showing how it can enhance the recovery journey for those seeking “eternal life” and spiritual awakening.
Understanding the Eleventh Step Prayer
The Eleventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous 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 encourages individuals to cultivate a deeper, more intentional relationship with their higher power. The accompanying Eleventh Step Prayer, or the Saint Francis Prayer, reflects this pursuit:
“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 prayer encapsulates the essence of seeking to align one’s life with divine will, promoting love, forgiveness, and harmony in daily life.
The Christian Message in the Eleventh Step Prayer
The 11th Step Prayer aligns seamlessly with biblical teachings, reinforcing themes of love, peace, and service. Key aspects of the prayer resonate with Christian principles:
Channel of Peace: The prayer’s opening line, “Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,” mirrors the Christian call to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Christians believe in embodying God’s peace and spreading it throughout their daily lives.
Bringing Love and Forgiveness: The prayer’s plea to bring love where there is hatred and forgiveness where there is wrong aligns with Jesus’ teachings on love and forgiveness (Matthew 5:44, Matthew 6:14). These actions are foundational to the Christian faith and crucial in fostering spiritual awakening.
Seeking Harmony and Truth: By asking to bring harmony where there is discord and truth where there is error, the prayer reflects the Christian commitment to unity and truth (Ephesians 4:3, John 8:32). These elements are essential for creating a supportive and honest community in the recovery journey.
Offering Hope and Light: The desire to bring hope where there is despair and light where there are shadows echoes the Christian mission to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) and to offer hope through faith in Christ.
Self-Forgetting and Service: The prayer emphasizes self-forgetting and service to others, highlighting the importance of humility and altruism (Philippians 2:3-4). This mirrors Jesus’ example of selflessness and compassion.
Integrating the Eleventh Step Prayer in Christian Recovery
Incorporating the Eleventh Step Prayer into a Christian’s daily life can provide profound spiritual reinforcement during the recovery process. Here are practical ways to integrate this prayer with Christian beliefs:
Morning Prayer and Meditation: Begin each day with the Eleventh Step Prayer, followed by meditation on related Bible verses. This practice can help cultivate conscious contact with God and align one’s daily actions with His will.
Reflection and Journaling: Reflect on the prayer’s themes and their manifestation in daily life. Journaling these reflections can offer insight and track progress in both spiritual and recovery journeys.
Prayer Groups and Bible Study: Engage in prayer groups or Bible studies that focus on themes of peace, love, and service. Sharing experiences with fellow Christians can provide support and encouragement.
Acts of Service: Embrace the prayer’s call to self-forgetting and service by getting involved in church ministries or community service. Acts of service not only reflect God’s love but also reinforce recovery principles by shifting focus from self to others.
The Eleventh Step Prayer of AA, when viewed through the lens of Christianity, becomes a powerful tool for spiritual growth and recovery. Its themes of peace, love, forgiveness, service, and renouncing self will and self seeking motives resonate deeply with Christian teachings. By embracing this prayer, Christians can find renewed faith and purpose in their own recovery, trusting in God’s plan and the spiritual path for their healing and transformation.
If you’re ready to start your spiritual recovery journey, get the process started by calling our admissions team. They can answer any questions you may have about our faith based treatment programs. You don’t have to do this alone.
