The Prayers of SLAA

Last Updated on 6 January 2024

Like Alcoholics Anonymous, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous is not a religious program – but it does encourage spirituality. We also know that many people come to the program with deep hurts and wounds and spiritual abuse inflicted by their parents, traditional religions and institutions.

On this page you will find some of the prayers that SLAA uses in its program or that members have found helpful. Prayers are addressed to your own Higher Power – however you understand that God or Spirit or Power to be.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Serenity Prayer (perhaps original form?)

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and 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 all things right
If I surrender to His will;
That I may be
Reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with
Him forever in the next.
Amen.

Commonly attributed to Theologian Reinhold Neibuhr

Third Step Prayer

To the GOD of my understanding:

God, I offer myself to You,
to build with me
and to do with me
as You will.

Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Your will.

Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them
may bear witness to those
I would help
of Your Power,
Your Love,
and Your Way of life.

May I do Your will always!

– Within the 12-Step tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous

Seventh Step Prayer

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.