Useful or favorite prayers and passages
In addition to helpful AA readings and prayers you may encounter in AA meetings and brought up by sponsors, I have also included some of my favorite AA literature readings, non-AA prayers, as well as my own versions of some prayers and readings that I have secularized, made gender-neutral or otherwise slightly modified while maintaining the spirit and meaning. I have not done this in any way to say that these passages are in any way deficient, nor are these to be construed as proposals to replace these passages. I created these versions in order to help newcomers who get caught up in archaic, religious-y, or unnecessarily gender-specific language, who may miss the greater message of these great passages. I think these passages are lifesaving and incredible, however, like an English teacher, helping students understand Shakespeare, I’m trying to help clear away some of the semantic fog that may prevent newcomers from understanding the importance of these passages. My goal is to help newcomers fall in love with these passages as I have, and to get past these barriers of entry to reach a point where they can embrace these passages fully.
- A running draft doc of slogans, mottos & cliches that I find meaningful
- Resources for my Sponsees and Newcomers
Table of Contents
Major Readings & Prayers
Serenity Prayer
Short Form Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, step 3 p. 41
Long Form Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make things right if I surrender to His Will so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him, forever and ever in the next. Amen.
Reinhold Niebuhr 1930s
Secular Intention for Serenity (Mine)
I seek the the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking this tumultuous world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that if I accept life on life’s terms, and do the next right thing, I may be reasonably happy in this life.
Responsibility Declaration
I am Responsible
I am responsible, when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.
Introduced at the 1965 AA International Convention in Toronto, written by former trustee Al S.