The Set Aside Prayer: A Guide to Spiritual Openness and Recovery

When I first started my journey into mindfulness, I expected specific results. I carried heavy baggage and a healthy dose of skepticism. However, the Set Aside Prayer eventually taught me a vital lesson: my “knowing” actually blocked my growing.

The Set Aside Prayer functions as more than a simple recitation. It serves as a psychological and spiritual tool to clear your mental slate. Whether you work a 12-step program or practice daily meditation, this prayer invites “information gain” that traditional study often misses.

What Exactly Is the Set-Aside Prayer?

At its core, the Set Aside Prayer appeals for an open mind. Many recovery circles use it to approach familiar texts as if they are seeing them for the first time.

The most common version states:

“God, please set aside everything I think I know about myself, my disease, these steps, and especially You; for an open mind and a new experience of these things and You.”

By using the setting aside prayer, you effectively tell your ego to take a backseat. This creates a “pattern interrupt” in your brain. It stops you from defaulting to old neural pathways and forces you to process information through a fresh lens.

Why “Knowing” Blocks Your Growth

Information overload defines our modern age. We often mistake the accumulation of facts for the achievement of wisdom. In spiritual matters, however, “knowing” leads to contempt before you even investigate a concept.

I remember sitting in a workshop years ago. Boredom consumed me because I thought I had “heard it all before.” A mentor leaned over and asked, “Have you used the Set Aside Prayer today?” I suddenly realized my pride acted as a shield. When we utilize the Set Aside Prayer, we practice intellectual humility. We admit our current perspective remains limited, which finally allows a breakthrough to occur.

Breaking Down the Entities: Myself, the Disease, and the Divine

To understand the Set Aside Prayer, we must examine the three primary entities it addresses:

1. Set Aside Your Self-Narrative

Everyone carries a “self-story.” You might tell yourself, “I am a failure” or “I am an expert.” These labels act as cages. When you set aside what you know about yourself, you allow a new version of “you” to emerge.

2. Set Aside Knowledge of the Disease

Whether you struggle with addiction or anxiety, you likely think you have diagnosed yourself completely. You have read the books and watched the videos. However, the Prayer of Set Aside reminds us that problems evolve. Fresh eyes reveal solutions that your biases previously hid.

3. Set Aside Your Concept of the Divine

Many people carry rigid definitions of a Higher Power. By applying the Set Aside Prayer to the Divine, you move away from stale dogma and toward a personal, lived experience.

How to Practice the Set Aside Prayer Daily

You do not need a church or a meeting to use this tool. Try these practical applications:

• Before Reading: Recite it before opening any book.

• Before Difficult Conversations: Set aside your assumptions about the other person to hear them truly.

• During Meditation: Use a shortened version: “Set aside my plans for this moment.”

The Set Aside Prayer personally helped me navigate the “Step 4” inventory process. I thought I knew my resentments perfectly. However, after I set aside my “knowledge,” I realized my own fears drove my anger. This realization only came through the practice of openness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What if I don’t believe in God?

The Set Aside Prayer works regardless of your specific faith. You can address your “Higher Self” or the “Universe.” The power lies in surrendering your ego, not in the label you choose.

Is the Set Aside Prayer in the Big Book?

The first edition of the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book does not print the prayer formally. However, the text weaves this concept throughout its pages. It has since become a staple of “Big Book Awakening” groups worldwide.