Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.Amen.

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The Lord’s Prayer in 12-Step Recovery
While the Lord’s Prayer is a central Christian prayer, it has been a staple of the recovery community since the 1930s. In the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, before the Fellowship had its own literature, this prayer was frequently used to close meetings and seek spiritual guidance.
Why it remains a cornerstone of the program:
- The “Our” in Recovery: Starting with “Our Father” immediately reinforces the principle of fellowship—that no one has to recover alone.
- Daily Reprieve: The line “Give us this day our daily bread” aligns perfectly with the “one day at a time” philosophy, focusing on spiritual maintenance for the next 24 hours.
- Forgiveness and Resentment: By asking for forgiveness “as we forgive those who trespass against us,” the prayer serves as a daily reminder of Step 8 and Step 9—the importance of clearing away resentments to stay sober.

