The key word is “usefulness.” The prayer does not ask God to make the person feel better or look better. It asks him to remove whatever gets in the way of being useful to God and to other people. That is the Big Book’s whole idea of humility.
Historical Context
Steps Six and Seven are the quietest in the program, and the ones people sometimes rush past. Six is getting willing; Seven is asking. Neither one promises that the defects vanish overnight; the asking is daily.
The 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.
What the Prayer Asks
- “All of me, good and bad.” Not only the parts I am ashamed of; my strengths belong to God too.
- “Every single defect.” Including the ones I secretly like.
- “My usefulness.” The goal is service, not self-improvement.
- “As I go out from here.” The prayer ends by sending you somewhere.
A Short Daily Version
God, take today whatever in me gets in your way.
Make me useful.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- When taking the Seventh Step, after completing Step Six.
- Every morning, alongside the Third Step Prayer.
- When a specific defect shows up during the day: name it and pray the prayer.
- Before a meeting or a service commitment.
Scripture Connection
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” — James 4:10
Humility in Scripture is not thinking badly of yourself. It is letting God do the lifting. The Seventh Step Prayer hands over the defects and trusts God with the result.
Related prayers
The Big Book’s first prayer is on the 3rd Step Prayer page. For more on humility, see the Humility Prayer, and for the daily review, the 10th Step Prayer.