abandon

"In our abandonment we give ourselves over to God just as God gave Himself for us, without any calculation. The consequences of abandonment never enter into our outlook because our life is taken up with Him." -Oswald Chambers

It really bugs me when Christian books instruct the reader to abandon all to God so that ______ happens. So that you get a promotion. So that your prayer life is enhanced. So that you find the perfect spouse. So that your life can be good.

That view of abandonment is so very shallow! If we are entering into abandonment with the idea that we will receive everything we humanly want, we are not truly abandoning ourselves. Even if we enter into the idea of abandonment simply so that our prayer life will be enhanced, we are not abandoning ourselves for the true reason that abandonment even exists.

Abandonment is a complete trusting in who God is and what He wants to do in our lives. Abandonment is letting him do it. In fact, I think that the only proper response to God's goodness and glory is to abandon ourselves completely. Abandonment exists so that our lives are no longer about what we do or where we go or what we receive, but instead, they are intrinsically bound up in God's way of living- bound up in his patience, love, gentleness, generosity, humility, unity...we abandon ourselves not knowing what God will do with us but trusting him all the same. Abandonment is done out of faith, and that faith is always always rewarded.

Friends, abandon yourselves to Christ. Abandon yourself so that God receives glory and praise. Abandon yourself with the realization that God wants to use you even more than He already is. Abandon yourself because it is the only appropriate response to God's glory, holiness and goodness.

Oswald Chambers again sums up this whole idea perfectly:
"Tell God you are ready to be offered, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be."

"You follow me!" -Jesus (Acts 21:22)