In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. Psalm 31:1-5
“Father, I abandon myself into Your hands. Do with me what You will, whatever You do, I will thank You. I am ready for all. I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me, as in all Your creatures, and I will ask nothing else, my Lord. Into your hands I commend my spirit; I give 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 with a trust beyond all measure, because You are my Father.”
Charles de Foucauld in “Prayer of Abandonment to God” in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 49.
This will be the first of many posts this new book referred to me by long time friend, Gary Oakley, from my Tuesday morning Pinehurst Bible Study group. This prayer seemed fitting to start a week of leave. Spending the week at Camp Spofford outside of Keene, NH.
The giving that comes into view is commending my spirit and giving myself to the Lord because He is trustworthy. As life never seems to go how we expect, rather than straining for control, there is peace in surrender. The rest and restoration I seek this week starts with surrender. Join me.
Father, in Your mercy, hear this prayer of abandonment from me and from my brothers and sisters around the world. Do what You will in and through us we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.