Many recovering addicts say the Seventh Step prayer upon awakening in the morning:
My creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I
pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands
in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go
out from here, to do your bidding. Amen. (Alcoholics Anonymous - page 76)
Essentially we are asking G-d to take everything away from us, the good and the
bad, and to give us back only what we need to do G-d's bidding. We say to G-d
take away all my capacities, all my qualities, all my talents, and all my
character defects. I have no personal use for any of it. Whatever You think I
will need today to do Your work, please give it to me. I don't use my own
egoistic talents to do Your work, I want to use the talent that You vested in
me.
I say the Modeh Ani every morning:
Modeh Ani Lefanecha Melech Chai Vekayam Shehechezarta Be Nishmati Bechemla;
Rabba Emunatecha.
I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored
my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.
Traditionally it is a gratitude prayer thanking G-d for restoring our soul back
into our body. The Hebrew words of "Modeh Ani" are usually translated as "I offer
thanks". Another translation, emphasized in the teaching of Chassidus is "I
surrender". So, another reading of the Modeh Ani could follow the same pattern
as the 7th Step. I surrender to G-d all of my existence. I ask G-d to give back
to me what I need to do His will today.
To read more about the Modeh Ani prayer click here.
