That friend of ours would finish his prayer in this way: "I love the Will of my God and that is why, abandoning myself completely into his hands, I pray that he may lead me however and wherever he likes." - St. Josemaria Escriva; The Forge, 40
'Guide me, Lord, to follow Your will'. It is indeed a beautiful prayer that we could use in our daily lives. Daily life often presents numerous challenges, and at times, we may feel lost and uncertain about how to resolve our issues. However, by entrusting ourselves fully to God's guidance, we can find the strength and solutions to overcome our troubles.
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Why do we need to abandon ourselves to God?
Let us try to identify the reasons why we need to abandon ourselves to God:
It will give us peace and relief. When we abandon ourselves to God, we are giving up our worries and burdens to Him. By doing this, God grants us peace and relief. As our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
We will receive Guidance and Wisdom. By abandoning yourself to God, you are putting your trust in Him. Trusting in Him means acknowledging that you can do nothing without Him in your life, and the only way to accomplish anything is through the guidance of the Lord. Wisdom comes from God, and you can ask Him directly for it. As James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." God will direct your mind and soul to the right path if you abandon yourself to Him.
We will have Strength and Resilience. By surrendering ourselves to God, He grants us the strength and resilience to overcome life's difficulties. We can endure all kinds of suffering, and God provides us with the resilience to face challenges and temptations. As Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Our spiritual life will grow. When we abandon ourselves to God, our relationship with Him flourishes like a tree full of fruits and flowers. We can enjoy a loving relationship with God by putting our trust in Him.
We will live in Humility and Gratitude. By recognizing our weaknesses and limitations, we learn to rely on God. This helps us humble ourselves before God and others. We also become grateful for all the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.
But how or what must we do to abandon ourselves to God? What are the things we should do to give up our lives to God?
Here are the steps we can take to abandon ourselves to God:
Prayer and Meditation. You must set aside time to pray every day, whether in the morning or at night. Ensure you spend at least a few minutes to talk with God. Talking with God means having a conversation with the Lord—a two-way interaction where you speak to Him and also allow God to speak to you through meditation.
Trust in God's Plan. You must trust in God's way. Believe that God has a perfect plan for you. Trust the process, knowing that when God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Never question God by asking, "Why am I here, and what am I supposed to do?" when He shows you something to do. Instead, do your best to accomplish the things that God wants you to do, because He knows what's best for you.
Let Go of Control. You must learn to let go of all your troubles and problems in life. Allow God to lead the way instead of trying to control everything yourself.
Read Scripture. Dedicate some time to reading the Bible. If you can spend a couple of hours watching movies and TV series on streaming platforms, why not also spend a couple of hours reading and meditating on the Word of God?
Live According to God's Will. I know this can be challenging. It's not easy to live according to God's will. However, God doesn't require you to be perfect. Showing your sincere effort to obey His will is perfect enough in the eyes of God.
Seek Community. Find a community that guides you towards God. Avoid communities that focus on finding faults in others.
Reflect and Journal. In every aspect of your life—personal, professional, or spiritual—keeping a journal can help you reflect on past experiences and learn from them.
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