The prayer of abandonment by Charles de Foucauld has haunted me all year. The words keep appearing in readings. Its message scares me yet draws me into contemplation. This prayer is calling to my soul.
Can I really pray this prayer? Am I honest in saying thank you in response to God doing what he wants with my life? Is this truthfully my only wish to be abandoned to God? Will I ever fully surrender my all to the All?
Part of me says yes, but my ego shivers with the consequences. I yearn to be closer to God but to be honest, my pride, personal agenda, and independence pulls me in opposite directions. I thirst to keep the eyes of my heart only on him. This prayer of abandonment requires trust and faith that I am inadequately equipped for – I am not strong enough to pray this prayer on my own.
Then I realize I am overthinking, overreacting. Fear blocks me from risking my love for God. “Just take a deep breath, Jeanie. Slow down and pray. God will take care of the results.”
This prayer does hold my word of the year – all. In fact, all appears four times. That alone is encouraging.
I sit quietly closing my eyes. I feel like I am hidden in the shadows of a large room. I hear God whisper, “Come here, child. It’s ok.”
I draw near. I listen for God’s heartbeat syncing with mine, slowing my racing heart to match his loving heart. I tell him my deepest desire expressed in the prayer of abandonment.
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.
What a beautiful prayer. This prayer helps me, helps all of us, realign our intention and our attention on God. I am repeating these words daily – sometimes with confidence, often with uncertainty, but always with hope.
What does the prayer of abandonment say to you?
Jean, the words to Foucauld’s prayer are indeed haunting. They frighten me but at the same time I can’t look away. I have copied the words to hold. Thank you!
I agree. That prayer does stick to your soul, doesn’t it?
This prayer scares the socks off of me….but the rewards (blessings) of surrender are so much bigger than my fear!
scares me too but I keep getting drawn to it. A growth edge for both of us I am sure.
I have learned that when God shows me the same thing from multiple sources, it is time to pay attention.
Stopped by from One Word 2022
That is sooooo true!! Often takes me quite a while to pay attention. LOL
My most earnest desire….
mine too!
God’s message to me in this prayer is two-fold:
Hands off!
Trust me!
love this. What a great way to remember!
Jean, that is such a beautiful prayer. I love your message here
Visiting from #One Word
Thanks Paula, Great to see you here.
Such an appropriate prayer for me too, Jean! My theme for RELEASE for August is to release overthinking. So this prayer covers it all for me, and yes, it is a scary one for me too to pray. But I agree with you that thankfully we don’t have to do it all ourselves; God will take care of the results.
This prayer does fit you too! That is so cool. and I agree it is a scary prayer and one I fail to pray daily but find I keep coming back to its words and wisdom. Slowly God is helping me to let go.
This is beautiful! I’m so glad you shared this. What I would say to this prayer is that I’M IN LORD! Sometimes I think to myself, what if I miss something he’s trying to tell me or show me? I try to hear his whispers in his word and seek him in the every day.
I’m in Lord sounds like a wonderful prayer!!
Not to be taken at all lightly…Yet where the greatest treasure is found!
Amen!!
Philippians 2:13 came to mind as I read your post, Jean: “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Praise God he keeps chipping away at us until we’re transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18)–to his delight and ours also!
Great image of God chipping away of us or I like the thought slowly unfolding us into his likeliness Yes what delight this journey can be.
Agreed!
It says scary to me…..fallin short of the mark…feeble attempts…spirit is willing but flesh is weak…however…day by day ..one can but try….
Thank you Jean
I feel challenged when I read these words yet yearn to say them at the same time, It is a daily and even moment to moment type of prayer, isn’t it?
This prayer of abandonment speaks volumes to me, Jean. I am going to copy it, print it, and keep it with my devotionals/Bible for every day use. Every day calls for fresh submission to God and His will for us in the moment.
May our Father continue to bless and inspire you, my friend!
It spoke volumes to me too Martha. It is challenging yet brings me closer to the One I long to be close to.