Prayers for Sobriety

A traditional prayer for sobriety, and 4 passages from the Bible to pray with it. Choose one, read it aloud, or print it as a card to keep.

Prayers

Prayer for the Tempted and Afflicted

O God, who justifiest the ungodly, and willest not the death of a sinner: we humbly entreat Thy Majesty to protect Thy servants, who trust in Thy mercy, with Thy heavenly assistance, and preserve them by Thy continual protection; that they may constantly serve Thee, and by no temptation be separated from Thee.

From the Manual of Prayers (1916)

Bible verses

God Will with the Temptation Make a Way to Escape

13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13, King James Version

Let Not Sin Reign

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:12-14, King James Version

He Brought Me Up out of an Horrible Pit

1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalm 40:1-3, King James Version

Let Us Run with Patience

1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2, King James Version

Questions

Which prayer for sobriety should I start with?

Start with "Prayer for the Tempted and Afflicted" and pray it each day, with God Will with the Temptation Make a Way to Escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) to read alongside it.

Are these Catholic or Protestant prayers?

Both. They come from Catholic prayer books and the Bible. Most can be prayed by any Christian.

Can I change the words to fit my situation?

Yes. Where a prayer says "N." or "thy servant", put in the name of the person you are praying for.

Why are the prayers in old-fashioned English?

They keep the words of the older prayer books and the King James Bible, the words generations have prayed. "Thee" and "thou" are the old familiar forms of "you".