If you’ve spent any time in a 12-step recovery meeting, chances are you’ve heard someone open with a short, humble request: help me set aside everything I think I know. That’s the Set Aside Prayer, and for many people in Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s the moment a meeting shifts from routine to real.
This guide breaks down what the Set Aside Prayer actually says, where it came from, what it means on a psychological and spiritual level, and how you can start using it in your own recovery even if you’ve never prayed a day in your life.
Quick Answer
The Set Aside Prayer is a short recovery prayer used in Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs to help members let go of preconceived ideas about themselves, their addiction, their Higher Power, and the program itself. It isn’t official AA literature, but it’s inspired by language in the Big Book’s “We Agnostics” chapter and is widely recited before step work, meetings, or Big Book study to encourage an open mind and a willingness to see things differently.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Also known as | Set Aside Prayer, AA Set Aside Prayer, Set Aside Prayer AA |
| Origin | Inspired by the “We Agnostics” chapter (pages 47–48) of the Big Book |
| Official AA text? | No — not printed word-for-word in AA’s core literature |
| Used in | Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Al-Anon, and other 12-step fellowships |
| Purpose | Letting go of assumptions to gain an open mind and a “new experience” |
| When it’s used | Before step work, before reading the Big Book, at the start of meetings, or during moments of doubt |
| Length | One short paragraph, roughly 40–50 words |
| Format | Recited silently or aloud, often adapted to personal wording |
What Is the Set Aside Prayer?
The Set Aside Prayer is a brief, informal prayer recited by people working a 12-step recovery program. Rather than asking for strength, courage, or serenity — like the well-known Serenity Prayer — the Set Aside Prayer asks for something different: permission to stop relying on what you already believe you know.
That distinction matters. Addiction often convinces people that their own thinking is trustworthy, even when that same thinking has led to repeated relapse, broken relationships, or years of unmanageability. The Set Aside Prayer directly challenges that pattern. It’s a request to temporarily put down old beliefs — about yourself, your Higher Power, and your recovery — so that something new can get through.
You’ll typically hear it used in one of two settings:
- At the beginning of a meeting or Big Book study, to help the group approach the reading with humility
- Privately, before step work or whenever a person feels stuck, defensive, or resistant to guidance
Because it isn’t tied to a specific religion, the prayer has been adopted well beyond traditional Christian recovery circles. Many secular, agnostic, and atheist members of 12-step programs use it too, simply substituting their own understanding of a Higher Power — whether that’s a spiritual force, the recovery group itself, or a broader sense of purpose.
The Set Aside Prayer (AA): Full Text
Wording varies slightly from group to group and region to region, since the prayer isn’t printed in official AA literature. However, the version below is the most commonly recited form heard in meetings and Big Book study groups:
“God, today help me set aside everything I think I know about You, everything I think I know about myself, everything I think I know about others, and everything I think I know about my own recovery, so I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me to see the truth.”
Some groups use a slightly shorter version, replacing “God” with “Higher Power,” or trimming the wording to focus on the Big Book and the Twelve Steps specifically. A common variation reads along these lines: a request to set aside preconceived ideas about oneself, one’s disease, the Twelve Steps, and the Higher Power, in order to approach recovery with a genuinely open mind.
Because there’s no single “official” script, feel free to adapt the wording to something that feels natural to say out loud — many long-time members do exactly that.
What Does the Set Aside Prayer Mean?
At its core, the Set Aside Prayer is about intellectual and spiritual humility. It asks the person praying to admit a hard truth: that their current thinking might be part of the problem, not the solution.
Here’s what each part of the prayer is doing, psychologically and spiritually:
“Everything I think I know about myself” — Addiction distorts self-image. People convince themselves they’re either hopeless or that they don’t really have a problem. This line invites a more honest, flexible self-view.
“Everything I think I know about my own recovery” — This targets resistance to the process itself: skepticism about the Twelve Steps, the temptation to take “half measures,” or the mindset of “I already know how this works.”
“Everything I think I know about You” (the Higher Power) — This is often the hardest part for people with painful religious history. It asks for openness to a Higher Power without requiring a specific religious definition — the Higher Power in AA doesn’t have to be tied to organized religion at all.
“So I may have an open mind and a new experience” — This is the goal of the entire prayer: not forced belief, but willingness. It reflects the idea that growth requires letting go of ego, control, and certainty.
“Please help me to see the truth” — A closing request for clarity, not answers handed down instantly, but the willingness to recognize truth when it appears.
In recovery terms, this prayer is closely tied to the concept of a “beginner’s mind” — approaching each day, each meeting, and each step as if for the first time, without the baggage of old assumptions.
Is the Set Aside Prayer an Official Alcoholics Anonymous Prayer?
No. The Set Aside Prayer is not printed word-for-word in Alcoholics Anonymous’s core literature, including the Big Book or the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. It’s considered a “member-created” or fellowship prayer — similar in spirit to the Serenity Prayer, which is also not officially part of AA’s written program but is closely associated with it.
Alcoholics Anonymous Set Aside Prayer: Why AA Members Use It
Even though it isn’t official, the Set Aside Prayer has become a fixture in meetings for a few practical reasons:
- It’s short and easy to memorize
- It doesn’t require a specific religious background to say sincerely
- It directly addresses the resistance and denial that often block progress in early recovery
- It works well as a group opener before reading the Big Book or discussing a step
Many members say it aloud together before diving into step work, treating it as a way to prepare the mind — not unlike a moment of quiet reflection before a difficult conversation.
Is the Set Aside Prayer AA Big Book Prayer?
The Set Aside Prayer is not printed verbatim in the Big Book, but it is widely understood to be inspired by language found in the “We Agnostics” chapter, particularly around pages 47–48 of the fourth edition. That chapter deals directly with skepticism toward spirituality and encourages readers to approach the concept of a Higher Power with an open, rather than closed, mind. Because of that connection, many people refer to it informally as a “Big Book prayer,” even though it doesn’t appear there as a standalone passage.
How to Use the AA Set Aside Prayer in Recovery
The Set Aside Prayer works best when it’s treated as a practice, not a one-time recitation. Here’s how many people incorporate it into daily recovery:
- Say it before reading the Big Book or working a step. This primes the mind to receive new information rather than filtering it through old assumptions.
- Use it when you notice resistance. If a sponsor’s suggestion or a step feels uncomfortable, that discomfort is often a signal to recite the prayer before reacting.
- Say it at the start of a meeting. Groups often use it collectively to set a tone of humility and openness.
- Adapt it to a specific situation. Some members insert the name of a person, place, or fear they’re struggling to see clearly — for example, “help me set aside everything I think I know about [this relationship] so I may see the truth.”
- Pair it with quiet reflection. A minute of silence after saying the prayer gives space for the “new experience” it asks for.
- Repeat it daily, not just during a crisis. Like most spiritual tools in recovery, consistency tends to matter more than intensity.
| Situation | How the Set Aside Prayer Helps |
| Feeling skeptical about the Twelve Steps | Opens the door to trying the process before judging it |
| Struggling with belief in a Higher Power | Removes pressure to define spirituality perfectly before starting |
| Feeling stuck or defensive with a sponsor | Encourages willingness instead of argument |
| Starting a new Big Book study | Sets a tone of humility before reading |
| Facing a relapse trigger or old belief pattern | Interrupts automatic, addiction-driven thinking |
Set Aside Prayer PDF and Set Aside Prayer AA PDF
Many recovery websites and treatment centers offer a free printable Set Aside Prayer PDF that members can keep in a wallet, meeting book, or on a refrigerator as a daily reminder. If you’re looking for a printable version, look for one that:
- Includes the full prayer text in large, easy-to-read font
- Fits on a single page or wallet-sized card
- Comes from a reputable recovery or treatment-focused source
- Is free to download and doesn’t require handing over payment information
You can also simply copy the version provided earlier in this article into a notes app, a card, or a laminated bookmark for your own Big Book. Some people keep it alongside the Serenity Prayer and the Third Step Prayer as part of a small personal recovery toolkit.
FAQ’s
What is the Set Aside Prayer used for?
It’s used to help people in recovery let go of preconceived ideas about themselves, their Higher Power, and their program so they can approach recovery with an open mind.
Is the Set Aside Prayer in the Big Book?
Not word-for-word. It’s inspired by ideas from the “We Agnostics” chapter but isn’t printed as a standalone prayer in AA’s official literature.
Who wrote the Set Aside Prayer?
There’s no confirmed single author. It developed informally within 12-step communities and has been passed along with slight wording changes over time.
Can non-religious people use the Set Aside Prayer?
Yes. Many agnostic and atheist members use it by substituting their own understanding of a Higher Power, such as the recovery group or a personal sense of purpose.
When should I say the Set Aside Prayer?
Common times include before step work, before reading the Big Book, at the start of a meeting, or whenever you notice resistance, doubt, or defensiveness.
Is the Set Aside Prayer only for alcoholics?
No. It’s used across many 12-step fellowships, including Narcotics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous, and even by people outside formal recovery programs who want a more open mind.
How is the Set Aside Prayer different from the Serenity Prayer?
The Serenity Prayer asks for the strength to accept what can’t be changed, while the Set Aside Prayer asks for the willingness to release old beliefs and see things with fresh eyes.
Conclusion
The Set Aside Prayer isn’t about reciting perfect words, it’s about practicing willingness. Whether you’re new to recovery or years into your program, this short prayer offers a simple, repeatable way to interrupt old thinking patterns and stay open to growth. It doesn’t require a specific religion, a perfect understanding of a Higher Power, or even full belief to start. It only asks that you’re willing to set aside what you think you already know, even for a moment, so something truer can take its place.
If you’re building a daily recovery practice, consider pairing the Set Aside Prayer with the Serenity Prayer or a few minutes of quiet reflection each morning. Small, consistent habits like these are often what make the difference between simply attending meetings and genuinely living the program.
