Singleheartedness

Lent is the 40 days before Jesus’ crucifixion (not counting Sundays). In this season of Lent I am reading “Show me the way” by Henri Nouwen that I dear friend gave me as a lent gift. Yesterday’s scripture reading at church was Matt 4:1-10 and verse 10 immediately struck me – serving God with single heartedness (The Message). Reading “Show me the way”, the scripture for Sunday was also Matt 4:10 “The Lord your God is the one to whom you must do homage, him alone you must serve. (New Jerusalem Bible translation). At our church meeting Sunday night we spoke about ensuring that God is number one in your life and we all named different things in each of our lives that come before God. The main obstacle I experience is named Christina. I am my biggest enemy. My desires will and wants often come before God’s desires, will and wants. I am not serving God with single heartedness – in my heart there are many things with which God must “compete”. This lent I want to create more space in my live – my everyday living so that there is more space for God in my heart, mind, soul and life. This is not an easy thing to do though; Henri Nouwen quoted a prayer of abandonment written by Charles de Foucauld. He comments on it by saying that “it seems good to pray this prayer often… I realize that I can never make this prayer come true by my own efforts. But the spirit of Jesus given to me can help me to pray it and grow to its fulfillment. I know that my inner peace depends on my willingness to make this prayer my own.”

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.
Charles de Foucauld