Step 7

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Overview

1. Review the example prayer and reflect on it.
2. Compose your own prayer that mentions your defects and what you are asking God to do for you.

Reading

1. Read Step Seven in “Step Into Action”
   • Highlight anything that hits you deeply
   • Write a word or two in the margin as to Why?
2. Read Members of SA Share in “Step Into Action”
   • Highlight anything that hits you deeply
   • Write a word or two in the margin as to Why?
3. Read and answer the Questions to Consider in “Step Into Action”
   • What character traits or beliefs block my ability to be humble?
   • What does being humble mean to me? How has someone I know demonstrated humility?
   • What fears do I have about working Step Seven? How might giving up my defects of character change my personality?
   • Which character defect interferes most with my recovery today? How willing am I to ask my Higher Power to remove it? Is there a specific action I need to take that I am avoiding?
   • What happens when I trust my Higher Power to remove my defects of character?
   • How has humility changed my view of myself and my character while working the Steps?
   • How have I become teachable?
   • What gifts might I receive as my Higher Power removes my shortcomings?
   • What does “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings” mean to you?

Example Prayers

Thank you for meeting me today at my point of need.

• To You who are All Powerful, I give my powerlessness and weakness.
  • To You who are Fierce and Mighty, I give my fear.
  • To You who are Protector, I give my vulnerability.
  • To You who are Unchanging, I give my instability and variability.
  • To You who meets my needs, I give my neediness and tendency to run to people that can’t meet my needs.
  • To You who are Faithful, I give my tendency to run and hide from hurt, from people, from relationships.
  • To You who never fail, I give my failure and shame.
  • To You who are Holy and Sinless, I give my guilt and the penalty I deserve.
  • To You who never gives up, I give my desire to jettison and cut off people and relationships that hurt me.
  • To You who endured rejection, laughter, ridicule, and criticism, I give you that pain.
  • To You who thought of me, I give you my selfishness and self-centeredness.
  • To You who always speaks Truth, I give you my urge to lie and manipulate and control.
  • To You who are the only Source, I give you my attempt to run to people and things to meet my needs.

Please hold these for me, and in return, lend me Yourself.

Writing

1. Read Step Into Action Step Seven in “Step Into Action”
2. Open and review my example file
   • Go to the Step 7 Files folder below
   • Open the file “Rick’s Step 7 Prayer.pdf”
3. Read and reflect on Step 7 prayers in the reading or the samples.
4. Select a prayer that you connect with to help you express your willingness to turn your will and live over to God – each day, each hour if necessary.

Files

The files for this step are shown below in PDF format. To find files in Excel, Mac, or Google format, check the File Versions page.