Prayer Of Abandonment (2)

Matthew 26:39 – Going a little farther, [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is posible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Yesterday I offered you this "Prayer of Abandonment" to God, written by Charles de Foucauld:

Father,

I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all; I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures — I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul: I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence,

For you are my Father.

Amen.

How does it affect you at this moment? What part do you find most easy to say? What is most difficult? At my first encounter it was easy to say, "Let only your will be done in me and in all your creatures." The "all your creatures" part was a special delight; a touch of heaven to be sure. The difficult part was "I am ready for all, I accept all." I wasn't so sure about that.

Across the years I have found that to pray it slowly is most helpful. Let each key word or phrase do its own work. When something stirs my spirit in a special way, I may pause and expand on it with my own heartfelt words. As the Spirit leads so we pray. It can be very exciting and enriching at the same time. Give it a try!

About a couple years ago I had invited the congregation where I was preaching to join me in praying this "Prayer of Abandonment". It was printed out in the church bulletin. In January of this year I was visiting this congregation again when an attractive young lady reminded me of that prayer. She told me that she had taken it home that Sunday and had fastened it to her refrigerator door where it was within reach as she did her work. She used it often, and had found it a great blessing. I am sure that Charles de Foucauld would be happy. So was I.

Prayer: Our great God and Father, we thank you for all the ways in which you touch our lives and bless us. For this "Prayer of Abandonment," with words that reach to the very depths of our souls and yet, at the same, time bring us into your presence, we give you all the praise and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.