Set Aside Prayer: A Christian’s Guide on How to Hear from God

Have you ever felt like your own thoughts are the loudest voice in the room, especially when you’re trying to pray? It’s that frustrating feeling of being spiritually stuck. If you’re battling the challenge of overcoming spiritual dryness or simply long for a deeper connection with God, you’re not alone. This guide explores a simple, heartfelt tool that can help: a spiritual breakthrough prayer known as the Set Aside Prayer.

What Is the Set Aside Prayer? Origins and Meaning

The set aside prayer is a beloved tool for anyone seeking a fresh start. Known widely as the alcoholics anonymous set aside prayer, it’s often called the set aside prayer aa in recovery communities. While not directly quoted in the Big Book, the prayer embodies its principles of letting go of old ideas and being willing to have our lifelong conceptions challenged.

A Note on the Prayer’s Origins

While this prayer has roots in recovery communities, its biblical principles of humility and surrender are universal Christian truths that benefit all believers, regardless of their relationship to addiction recovery.

Traditional AA Version:

“Dear God, please help me set aside everything I think I know about myself, my disease, the Twelve Steps, and especially You, so I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help me see the truth”.

Christian Adaptation for Daily Faith:

“God, please help me set aside everything I think I know about myself, about my situation, and about You, so that I may have an open mind and a new experience with You. Please help me see the truth. Amen”. 

The Prayer’s Roots in Recovery and Scripture

This prayer finds its foundation in both recovery wisdom and timeless biblical truth. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous recognizes that “some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 58).

From a Christian perspective, this aligns beautifully with Scripture. It is the very heart of Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. It also echoes God’s own words in Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV): “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’, declares the LORD‘. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’”. This connection makes it a truly biblical set aside prayer at its heart.

For a deeper exploration of this theme, these surrender to God bible verses provide additional foundation for understanding biblical surrender.

Unpacking the Prayer’s Power for Your Everyday Faith

So, how does this simple prayer become a transformative force? It guides us into a posture of surrender, addressing the very things that so often stand in our way. It’s a powerful tool for anyone seeking a genuine prayer for spiritual growth. When combined with meditation on relevant bible verses about spiritual growth, this prayer becomes even more transformative in your daily walk with Christ.

When the internal noise isn’t just routine, but the looping track of past hurts or self-doubt, you can use this prayer as a gentle interruption: “Lord, please help me set aside what I think I know about this memory, and show me your truth instead”. Among the many prayers for humility and surrender, this one stands out for its profound simplicity.

For persistent negative thought patterns, you might also find these prayers to cancel every evil thought helpful in your spiritual toolkit.

Different Forms of the Set Aside Prayer

The prayer can be adapted for any situation. Think of these as a form of Christian surrender prayer tailored to your specific need.

• The Traditional AA Version: “Dear God, please help me set aside everything I think I know about myself, my disease, the Big Book, the 12 Steps… so I may have an open mind and a new experience…”
• The Simple Version: “God, please help me set aside what I think I know so I can experience something new with You today”.
• For Relationships: Try this set aside prayer for relationships: “Lord, help me set aside my assumptions about this person and see them through Your eyes”. This reflects the call in Philippians 2:3 (NIV): “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”.
• For Decision-Making: Use this set aside prayer for decision making: “Father, help me set aside my desired outcome and my fears, and trust Your wisdom in this choice”.

What If Setting Aside Feels Unsafe?

For some, the idea of letting go can feel scary. This is where it truly becomes a Christian prayer for letting go. A friend of mine felt this way, paralyzed by worry. For her, this became her go-to set aside prayer for anxiety. She started small, whispering, “God, help me set aside my frustration with this traffic”. It didn’t clear the road, but it quieted her spirit. It was an experiment in trust, reminding her heart that the one she was opening up to was a safe and loving Father. Scripture confirms this, inviting us: “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

If anxiety is something you struggle with regularly, pairing this prayer with meditation on anxiety bible verses can provide additional comfort and biblical truth.

What to Listen For After You Pray

After you pray, listen for: A feeling of peace where there was anxiety

So you’ve used this prayer to hear God’s voice; what happens next? The “new experience” you prayed for is often a gentle shift. Remember the story of Elijah, where God revealed Himself not in the wind or the fire, but in what the scripture calls “a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12 NIV). This prayer to quiet the mind creates the space to hear Him. After you pray, listen for:

• A feeling of peace where there was anxiety… A simple, creative idea for a problem that felt stuck. These gentle shifts are God’s way of responding to our hearts. To build your faith in His responsiveness, explore these encouraging bible verses about God answering prayers.
• A new, more compassionate thought about a person.
• A simple, creative idea for a problem that felt stuck.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Set Aside Prayer

Q: Is this prayer only for people in recovery?

A: While it originated in AA, this prayer is powerful for any Christian seeking spiritual growth and freedom from limiting beliefs.

Q: What’s the difference between the AA version and a Christian version?

A: The core message of humility is the same. The Christian adaptation focuses that plea directly toward the personal, Trinitarian God we know through Jesus Christ, emphasizing our relationship with Him rather than a generic “higher power”.

Q: What if I don’t feel comfortable with the “set aside” language?

A: The heart of the prayer is about humility and openness. You can adapt the words to feel authentic. You might also find the Serenity Prayer helpful for releasing control.

Q: How often should I pray this?

A: Many find it helpful before Bible reading, during conflicts, or when facing major decisions. Let the Holy Spirit guide your timing.

Your Next Step in Prayer

The set aside prayer isn’t about emptying your mind – it’s about making room for God. It’s a key step in learning how to hear from God. Whether you’re facing a difficult relationship, a major decision, or spiritual dryness, this prayer can unlock fresh perspective and renewed hope.

Start small. Choose one area where you feel stuck. Whisper this prayer and see what happens when you loosen your grip and open your hands to receive whatever God wants to give you. For more tools on your journey, explore other prayers for spiritual growth on our blog.

What is one thing you sense God gently asking you to “set aside” today?