Prayers to Overcome Addiction: For Cravings, Relapse and Someone You Love

A prayer against addiction can start by admitting that willpower has run out: “Lord, I cannot beat this on my own. Get me through the next hour without it, and lead me to the help I need. Amen.” Paul promised a “way to escape” with every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Prayer goes alongside treatment and support, not instead of them. In the US, SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day, in English and Spanish; it refers callers to local treatment and support groups. In the UK, FRANK answers questions about drugs on 0300 123 6600, day and night. If someone has taken too much and needs urgent help, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. If you are thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland. There are also more Christian and crisis lines.

When the craving comes

Lord, the pull is strong right now, and part of me has already decided. Show me the way out you promised, and give me the strength to take it: a call to make, a door to walk through, a place to go instead. Keep me clean for this hour. I will ask you again for the next one. Amen.

To admit I cannot do this alone

God, I have promised myself many times that I would stop, and I have broken every promise. Paul knew this: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Romans 7:19). I give up pretending I can fix it by myself. Take over what I cannot control. Your grace is sufficient for me, and your strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Amen.

For courage to ask for help

Father, I am ashamed to tell anyone how bad it has become. Give me courage to make the call, walk into the meeting, or tell my doctor the truth. Put the right people in front of me, and keep me from walking away when they try to help. Amen.

After a relapse

Lord, I used again. I am angry with myself and afraid of what comes next. You promise that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9), so I confess this now. Do not let one fall become a reason to give up. Help me tell someone today and start again. Your mercies “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). Amen.

For the shame I carry

Jesus, I have hurt people I love, lied to them and to myself, and wasted years. I am more than the worst thing I have done. Heal the old wounds that sent me looking for relief in the first place, and let me believe that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Amen.

One day at a time

Father, I cannot promise to stay sober for the rest of my life. I can ask you for today. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow” (Matthew 6:34). Keep me clean until tonight, and tomorrow I will ask again. Amen.

For protection from the people and places that pull me back

Lord, you know the friends, the streets, the apps and the hours that lead me back. Give me the sense to stay away from them, even when I miss them. Christ has made me free; keep me from being “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). Amen.

For freedom from dependence on a person

God, I have made another person the center of my life. I cannot rest unless they approve of me, and I lose myself trying to hold on to them. Put that relationship back in its right place. Let me love without needing to control or be controlled, and let my worth rest in you. Amen.

To quit smoking

Lord, I want to stop smoking and I have failed before. Get me through the first days and the worst cravings: after meals, with coffee, when I am stressed. My body is “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6:19); help me care for it. Amen.

Thanks for another day clean

Thank you, God, for today. I waited on you, and you “brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock” (Psalm 40:2). Keep me grateful and keep me humble, and let my story give hope to someone still in the pit. Amen.

These prayers are for a parent, a husband or wife, a brother or sister, or a friend. Put the person’s name where [name] appears. There are more prayers for drug addiction for someone you love.

For a loved one using drugs or drinking

Lord Jesus, [name] is caught in this, and I cannot pull [him or her] out. Keep [name] alive tonight. Break the hold it has, bring the right doctor, counselor or friend into [his or her] life, and give [name] the will to accept help when it comes. Amen.

When they refuse help

Father, [name] says there is no problem, and nothing I say gets through. You are the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to look for the one that is lost (Matthew 18:12). Go after [name]. Teach me to love without covering for the addiction, and to say no without closing the door. Amen.

For the family

God, this addiction has taken over our home. We are tired, frightened and short with each other. Give us rest, wisdom about money and safety, and people who understand. Keep the children safe and let them know none of this is their fault. Amen.

Traditional prayers against addiction

The Serenity Prayer

Alcoholics Anonymous took up this prayer in 1941, after a member found it in a newspaper notice in New York, and printed it on cards for members to carry. A.A.’s own historical paper records many claims about who wrote it, and prints the prayer under the name of the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. Its short form reads:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; and Wisdom to know the difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous, “Origin of the Serenity Prayer: A Historical Paper” (SMF-129)

A Catholic prayer against gluttony and drunkenness

The Manual of Prayers of 1888, prepared by order of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, includes prayers against each of the seven deadly sins. The one against gluttony names drunkenness.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Mirror of abstinence, who, to teach us the virtue of abstinence, didst fast forty days and forty nights, grant that, serving Thee and not our own appetites, we may live soberly and piously with contentment, without greediness, gluttony, or drunkenness, that Thy will being our meat and drink, we may hunger and thirst after justice, and finally obtain from Thee that food which endureth unto life eternal. Amen.

A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), Prayers against the Seven Deadly Sins, “Against Gluttony,” p. 297

Orthodox devotions for those addicted to drink or drugs

Russian Orthodox Christians often pray before the icon of the Mother of God called the “Inexhaustible Cup.” According to Orthodox accounts, it appeared in 1878 in Serpukhov, about 100 kilometers south of Moscow, and is kept at the Vladychny Convent there. The story tells of a retired soldier from Tula province who had drunk for many years, was told in a vision to find the icon and have a service of prayer sung before it, and was healed. The icon is now venerated especially by people who suffer from alcoholism, drug use and other addictions, and by their families.

Orthodox Christians also ask the prayers of the martyr Boniface of Tarsus. By the Orthodox account, he was the slave of a rich Roman woman named Aglaia and lived with her in sin, then confessed Christ at Tarsus in Cilicia and was put to death there. The Orthodox Church in America’s account of his life ends, “We pray to Saint Boniface for deliverance from drunkenness.” Catholic and Orthodox Christians ask saints to pray for them; most Protestants pray to God alone.

Augustine of Hippo was not describing drink or drugs, but his Confessions explains plainly how a habit becomes a bondage. Writing of the years before his conversion, he said that his own will had been made into a chain: “For of a forward will, was a lust made; and a lust served, became custom; and custom not resisted, became necessity” (Confessions, Book 8). He kept putting off the change: “How long, how long, ‘tomorrow, and tomorrow?’ Why not now?” In a garden in Milan he opened Paul’s letters and read, “not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:13–14), and he turned.

Proverbs describes the same pattern from the drinker’s side, ending with a man who has been beaten and felt nothing: “when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again” (Proverbs 23:35).

The Bible gives no form of words that ends an addiction by itself, and no ritual for breaking a curse over a drinker or a drug user. It does promise freedom: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). It also puts that freedom among other people: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). The answer to that prayer may come as a sponsor, a doctor, a treatment program or a church that keeps showing up. For quitting tobacco in particular, there are separate prayers to quit smoking.

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Addiction can be a difficult and lonely experience, and it can be hard to find strength to overcome it. Prayer can be a powerful tool to help break free from addiction and to find strength in moments of weakness. This prayer seeks to provide guidance and comfort in the difficult journey to overcome addiction.

Prayer for Strength in Weakness

Heavenly Father, we come to You in our time of need, seeking Your strength and comfort. We know that without You, we are nothing, and we surrender ourselves to You in our moments of weakness. 

We pray for Your grace and mercy as we struggle with the temptations of addiction. Help us find the courage to resist the urges and strength in You. 

Give us the power to make wise decisions and stay on the recovery path. We thank You for the opportunity to turn our lives around and to be healed by Your love. 

We pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.

Prayer can be an invaluable tool to help break free from addiction and to find strength in moments of weakness. Through prayer, we can seek the comfort and guidance of our Father in Heaven to help us on our journey to recovery. May we all be blessed with the strength to overcome our addictions.

Addiction can be a debilitating and overwhelming problem to deal with. It is important to recognize that true and lasting change can only come from a higher power, and a prayer for divine intervention is the perfect way to ask for that help. This prayer asks for God’s grace to provide strength and guidance in overcoming addiction and breaking free from its clutches. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, you are our strength and refuge in times of trouble. We come before you today in desperate need of your divine intervention. We recognize that our addiction has taken control of our lives and caused us great distress. We know that without your help, we cannot break free from this cycle. Please help us to recognize our wrongdoings and show us the way to true and lasting recovery. Give us the courage and strength to face our addiction and to free ourselves from its chains. Guide us in the right direction and give us the wisdom to make the right choices. We know that with your grace and mercy, all things are possible. Amen. 

It is important to remember that the power of prayer and divine intervention is real, and can bring strength and guidance to those who are struggling with addiction. Asking for help from a higher power can be a powerful tool to break free from addiction and to move forward in life.

Prayer for emotional healing is a powerful tool to help an individual overcome addiction and break free. Prayer allows us to express our deepest emotions and draw closer to God, while seeking peace and solace. It is a way of connecting with a higher power that can provide comfort and guidance, and help us find healing and hope. 

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, we seek your help in our struggle against addiction. We know that we can overcome only through your grace and guidance. We seek strength and courage to face our inner demons and break free from the chains of our addiction. 

We ask that you help us to find peace and comfort in our innermost hearts. We pray for the strength to accept and forgive ourselves for our past mistakes, and to move forward in our journey of healing. We also seek the guidance and support of our loved ones and community as we navigate through this challenging time. With their comforting prayers and encouragement, we know that we can find the peace and comfort we desperately need. Let us come together in faith and hope for a brighter tomorrow. We also ask for prayers for purgatory souls, that they may find solace and liberation. Together, let us lift our voices in prayer and solidarity, trusting in the power of God’s love to bring peace to our hearts and to all those in need of comfort and healing. With the support of our community and the grace of God, we believe that brighter days are ahead. As we face the difficulties in our lives, we rely on the power of prayer to bring restoration and healing. We believe in the strength of powerful prayers for marriage restoration, knowing that with faith and perseverance, we can overcome any obstacle. Together, we will hold onto hope and trust in the power of love to guide us towards a brighter future. We also ask for the wisdom to know how to start praying and for the courage to open our hearts to God’s love and grace. As we seek guidance and support from our community, we are reminded of the power of prayer and its ability to bring us closer to God. Let us come together in faith and hope, finding strength and solace in the comforting presence of our Creator. We also ask for the strength to trust in God’s plan for us, and to find solace in His love and guidance. As we continue on this journey, we pray for peaceful prayers for everyday tranquility in our lives and the lives of those around us. With God’s grace and the support of our community, we are confident that we can find the peace and comfort we seek. Let us hold onto hope and continue to lift each other up in prayer.

We pray for hope, that we may never lose sight of our higher purpose and the better future that awaits us. We pray for the courage to keep going, even when the darkness seems too strong to overcome. 

We thank you, Lord, for providing us with the spiritual support and guidance to find our way out of darkness and into the light. Amen.

Prayer for emotional healing can be a powerful tool to help us break free from addiction and find healing. It allows us to express our deepest emotions and draw closer to God while seeking strength, courage, hope, and comfort. Prayer can provide us with the spiritual support and guidance we need to find our way out of darkness and into the light.

Addiction can be an incredibly difficult thing to overcome, but with the right help and support, it can be possible. Praying for courage to seek help is an important step in the process, and can provide comfort and hope. This prayer encourages those struggling with addiction to take the necessary steps to get help and find the courage needed to overcome it. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, 

We come before you today with heavy hearts, seeking your help and guidance in our struggles with addiction. We ask you to bring us courage and strength to seek help and accept the help offered to us. Help us to overcome our doubts and fears, and to make wise decisions that will help us break free from our addictions. 

Give us the clarity of mind to recognize our need for help and to be open to the support of those around us. May we be brave and accept that our addictions can be overcome with the help of your grace. 

We thank you for your unending love and mercy, and ask that you continue to guide us and support us in our journey to break free from addiction. Amen. 

Addiction can be an incredibly difficult thing to overcome, and it often requires courage and strength to seek help. Praying for courage to seek help can provide comfort and hope, and is an important step in overcoming addiction. This prayer encourages those struggling with addiction to take the necessary steps to get help and find the courage they need to overcome it.

Prayer for Acceptance and Forgiveness is a powerful Christian prayer for those struggling with addiction. It is a prayer that invokes the power of God to help those addicted to substances to break free from their addiction and to accept help and forgiveness. It is a prayer that can be used to help those struggling with addiction to find strength, hope, and guidance in their journey to break free from addiction.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, grace, and mercy. We come to you today to ask for your strength and guidance in our journey to break free from addiction. We pray that you grant us the courage and strength to accept help and to be forgiven. Help us to have the courage to face our addiction and to break free from its grip. Help us to find solace and peace amid our struggle.

We ask that you surround us with love, hope, and understanding as we strive to break free from the chains of addiction. Grant us the courage and strength to reach out for help and to accept forgiveness for our past mistakes.

We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer for Acceptance and Forgiveness is a powerful Christian prayer that offers those struggling with addiction an opportunity to turn to God for strength, hope, and guidance in their journey to break free from addiction. Through this prayer, those struggling with addiction may be able to find the courage and strength to accept help and to be forgiven for their mistakes. It is a powerful reminder of God’s presence in our lives and His unwavering love and support.

Prayer for Support and Guidance in Overcoming Addiction is a call to seek help from the Lord. Addiction is a challenging journey to embark on, and it can be comforting to know that you are not alone. God is a loving provider who is always willing to offer support and guidance to those who turn to Him. Through prayer, we can open our hearts and souls to God, allowing Him to guide us on our journey to recovery. 

Heavenly Father, we pray to You, asking for Your help and guidance as we strive to overcome addiction. We know that this challenge is not easy, but we trust in You that You will provide us with the strength to stay on the path of recovery. Lord, grant us the courage to face our struggles and the wisdom to make the right decisions. Help us understand the importance of caring for our bodies and minds, and remind us of the power of Your love and grace. We ask for Your protection and guidance as we take the steps necessary to break free from addiction. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

This prayer for support and guidance in overcoming addiction is a powerful reminder of the strength and compassion that the Lord has for those struggling with addiction. Through this prayer, we can open our hearts to God, allowing Him to provide us with the support and direction we need to break free from addiction and embark on the path of recovery. May God bless us with the guidance and strength to overcome our struggles and find peace.

The power of prayer can be a great source of strength and comfort when dealing with addiction. Seeking wisdom and discernment through prayer can help those struggling with addiction to break free and find freedom from the bondage of addiction. Prayer can provide the emotional and spiritual support needed to make lasting changes as well as the courage to overcome addiction.

Dear Lord, 

We come to You asking for Your wisdom and discernment in our struggle to break free from addiction. We ask You to give us the strength and courage to take the necessary steps to move forward and break free from our addiction. Help us to see the root of our addiction and the underlying issues that must be addressed to make lasting changes.

Lord, we ask You to strengthen our faith and give us the determination to do whatever it takes to break free. Help us find solace in You and true healing from You. Let Your will be done in our lives and help us to remember that You are by our side through it all. Lord, we also ask for Your protection as we navigate through these difficult times. Help us to become more reliant on Your strength and to surrender our fears and anxieties to You. We are praying for protection from the enemy’s schemes and for Your guidance as we seek to break free from the chains that bind us. Amen. Lord, we know that with You by our side, we can overcome any obstacle. We are praying for protection from evil and for Your divine intervention in our lives. Help us to stay strong in our faith and to trust in Your plan for us.

We thank You for Your guidance and support and ask that You continue to be with us on our journey. Amen.

The power of prayer can be a great source of strength and comfort when dealing with addiction. Seeking wisdom and discernment through prayer can help those who are struggling to break free from addiction. Prayer can provide the emotional and spiritual support needed to make lasting changes as well as the courage to overcome the bondage of addiction. When prayer is combined with other resources and support, it can be a powerful tool for breaking free from addiction and finding lasting freedom.

Addiction is a difficult issue to face, and it can be difficult to break free from it without help. Prayer is one way to find peace and strength to fight against addiction, and to find the focus necessary to move forward. Praying for renewed focus can be a powerful way to set goals and stay on track with overcoming addiction. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank you for your grace and strength. We know that addiction is a struggle, but with your help we can break free. Help us find renewed focus in our lives, so we can stay on track and reach our goals. Give us the courage and strength to keep pushing forward in our recovery, even when we feel overwhelmed. Guide us in our journey and help us to remember that we are never alone. In your name we pray, Amen.

Addiction can be a difficult issue to overcome, but prayer can be a powerful tool to help break free. Praying for renewed focus can help to strengthen the resolve to stay on track and make positive changes. With God’s help and strength, we can find the courage and determination to break free from addiction. In addition, seeking support from a community of believers can also provide essential prayers for encouragement. Surrounding oneself with loving and understanding individuals who can offer up prayers for strength and healing can make a significant difference in the journey to recovery. By turning to prayer and seeking support, individuals can find hope and the determination to overcome addiction.

Addiction can be a challenging journey. It can cause a person to feel overwhelmed, lost, and stuck in a cycle of despair. Fortunately, prayer can provide strength, hope, and courage to break free from addiction and start a new beginning. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come to you in a humble spirit, desperate for Your help in our time of need. We know that our strength and courage come from You, and we thank You for that. We ask that You help us to break free from this addiction so that we may have a new beginning. Guide us in the right direction and show us the path to a healthy lifestyle. Grant us the courage and strength to keep going, even when we feel like giving up. 

Help us to find comfort and peace, even amid our struggles. Fill us with hope and joy, and remind us that You are always with us. Thank you for Your grace, mercy, and love, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Addiction can be difficult to overcome, but prayer can provide comfort and strength to those who are struggling. It can help to provide hope and courage to break free from addiction and start a new beginning. May we all courageously stay strong and seek help when needed.

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