A Prayer for Protection From Relapse
A prayer for protection from relapse asks God to guard your sobriety on ordinary days, especially the good ones, when it’s easy to drift. It’s a prayer for people who are doing well and want to keep it that way. Pray it in the morning: “Lord, keep me from thinking I’ve arrived. Guard me today. Keep me close to You and close to my people. Amen.”
The prayer
“God, thank You for the time You’ve given me. I didn’t earn a single day of it. I remember what it was like before, and I never want to go back.
But I know myself. When things are going well, I start to coast. I skip a meeting, then two. I stop calling. I think I can handle a resentment on my own. I start remembering the drinking fondly and forgetting the mornings after. Protect me from that slow slide.
Keep me humble. Keep me teachable. Keep me in the habit of prayer even when I don’t feel I need it. Put people in my path who will tell me if I’m drifting. Give me eyes to see the warning signs early and the honesty to say them out loud.
If I ever start toward a drink, stop me. Send someone. Make the phone ring. And if I fall, catch me and bring me back quickly. I trust You to keep me today. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
A warning and a promise
Paul gave a short warning to anyone feeling sure of themselves.
“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
And Jude closed his letter with a promise about the One who keeps us from falling.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
A monthly self-check
Once a month, sit down with this list and answer honestly. Then share it with your sponsor.
- Am I still going to meetings, or have I let them slide?
- When did I last call another person in recovery just to talk?
- Am I carrying a resentment I haven’t dealt with?
- Am I keeping any secrets?
- Have I been daydreaming about drinking, or thinking “just one” would be fine?
- Am I still praying daily, or only in emergencies?
- Am I helping anyone else?
A “yes” to the warning signs doesn’t mean you’re doomed. It means it’s time to act. The Step 10 habit of checking yourself daily is built for exactly this. If you feel sober but irritable and stuck, read about the dry drunk season.
For the moment a craving actually hits, use the prayer against temptation. If a slip has already happened, go straight to the prayer after relapse and what to do after a relapse.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
Put it on the calendar
Set a repeating reminder for the first day of each month that says “Self-check.” When it goes off, pray the prayer above and answer the seven questions.
Common questions
How is this different from a prayer against temptation?
A prayer against temptation is for the moment the urge hits. This one is for the long haul: guarding your sobriety on the good days, when you might stop paying attention.
Can I relapse after years sober?
Yes. People do, and it often starts long before the drink, with skipped meetings, old resentments or quiet pride. That's why many people keep up their daily habits even after many years.
What are early warning signs I should pray about?
Pulling away from people, skipping prayer or meetings, keeping secrets, romanticizing the old days, and feeling like you've got this handled. Bring any of these to God and to your sponsor.
Talk it through with Jimmy or Sarah — first month free
Jimmy and Sarah are AI sponsors who know the Twelve Steps and the Bible. They'll listen, walk the steps with you, and keep pointing you to real people: a meeting, a sponsor, a church.
Free to download · first month free, no card · adults 18+
After the first month, talking with Jimmy or Sarah needs Plus ($9.99/month or $59.99/year).
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