Step Seven: A Closer Look at a Quiet but Powerful Moment in Recovery
Twelve-step programs are often called “programs of action,” no matter which addiction or issue they address. Like Step Six, Step Seven in the Big Book is explained in just one paragraph. That brevity is intentional — this isn’t a step to linger in. Once we’ve become willing to let our Higher Power remove our negative behaviors and thought patterns — or have asked for the willingness — we move directly into Step Seven.
Here’s how the Big Book describes it:
“When ready, we say something like this:
‘My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.’
We have then completed Step Seven.” — Alcoholics Anonymous, p.76
Let’s take a moment to break down this prayer:
“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.”
This is a statement of humility. Being human means we carry both light and shadow. Offering our whole selves to our understanding of God, god, or higher power is an act of acceptance — not just of our strengths, but of our flaws too.
In my experience, God loves me as I am. My negative traits don’t make me unlovable.
My husband, who doesn’t relate to a personal god, interprets this line as a declaration of belonging. He sees himself as made of the same stuff as the universe — and therefore, he belongs in it.
“I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.”
This is an intention. It’s a request for clarity and courage — to become aware of our patterns and to respond differently. Yes, our higher power removes these defects, but we also have a role to play. Sometimes I only recognize a trigger after I’ve acted out an old behavior. In those moments, I reflect prayerfully and constructively on how I’ll respond next time. I also work on practicing opposite actions than I used to fall into.
“Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding.”
This is a request for strength — an acknowledgment of our limitations and a commitment to live by our values.
When I read this line, I think about how life will continue doing its thing, regardless of my feelings or plans. Without strength, I might react with anger or hurt. In my heart, I’m asking: Give me strength to face everything “out there” in the world — especially the parts that scare me.
If this prayer doesn’t resonate with you, I encourage you to write your own version. It should reflect your personal understanding of a higher power. Consider using three simple statements, like those found in the Big Book:
- Be humble
- Ask for clarity and courage to face the difficult parts of your character
- Acknowledge your limitations while committing to do better
If you’ve written a version of this prayer that speaks to you, I’d love to see it — feel free to share it in the comments.
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