Prayers for Those Struggling with Addiction

Regardless of your views on religion, prayers can offer comfort, strength, and motivation, especially if you’re battling substance abuse. Some of the most common prayers utilized in addiction recovery are the Serenity Prayer and St. Francis of Assisi’s Prayer. Prayers for those struggling with addiction are meant to strengthen spiritual resolve and willpower, motivating the individual to receive drug or alcohol addiction treatment and sustain their sobriety in the future.

Prayers for Addiction and Healing

At our drug rehab in Pennsylvania, we’ve witnessed the benefits of prayer in addiction recovery. Recovering from substance abuse presents physical and spiritual challenges. While the physical repercussions of addiction are more commonly addressed, the spiritual challenges are often put on the back burner. To help you begin or continue your recovery journey, we’ve mentioned some of the most powerful prayers for drug addicts and people in addiction recovery.

The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer is as follows: “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 hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.” While its origins aren’t clear, the Serenity Prayer is one of the most common prayers for those struggling with addiction. While the first few lines are usually recited, the entire prayer focuses on asking God for the peace, courage, wisdom, and faith that can help you live a full and happy life.

St. Francis of Assisi’s Prayer

Although this prayer has ancient roots, its meaning is still applicable in our world today. The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi reads:

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.”

In this prayer, St. Francis expresses his desire to serve God by spreading His love to others. Francis expresses his humility, selflessness, and aspiration to serve others. For many, finding purpose in recovery from addiction involves serving others and contributing to other causes. If you’re battling an active addiction, this prayer can help you realize the impact of your actions on others and the importance of improving your health for the sake of your loved ones as well as yourself.

The Knots Prayer

The Knots Prayer focuses on asking God to remove negativity and insecurities from your life. We are often tied down by challenges, inconsistencies, and uncertainties we come across, especially in addiction. When you recite this prayer, you’re asking Him to lift these burdens from your heart and life, allowing you to move forward. The prayer is as follows: 

“Dear God:

Please untie the knots

that are in my mind,

my heart and my life.

Remove the have nots,

the can nots and the do nots

that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,

may nots,

might nots that may find

a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,

would nots and

should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all,

Dear God,

I ask that you remove from my mind,

my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’

that I have allowed to hold me back,

especially the thought

that I am not good enough.

Amen.”

1 Corinthians 6:12

Bible verses can also serve as prayers for drug addiction recovery. In his letter to the Christina church in Corinth, Paul wrote, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.” This verse serves as a reminder that not all things that are available to us are good for us. While you may have accessibility to drugs and alcohol, it doesn’t mean they’re good for you. While people rarely begin using these substances with the intent to become addicted, many often become inferior to their substance abuse disorder.

Third Step Prayer 

As the name suggests, the third step prayer is part of the 12-Step Program. This is another common prayer for addicts because it refers to relinquishing control over to God and asking Him for relief from the bondage of addiction. The prayer reads:

“God, I offer myself to Thee – to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always!”

At Clearbrook Treatment Centers, we advocate the benefits of prayer for addiction and recovery. There are plenty of positive resources that addicts can use to turn their lives around. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, do not wait to get help. While other resources can be beneficial, the best thing you can do is get professional help. Call us today at 570-536-9621 for more information about our residential treatment program.