The Prayer of Abandonment — Father, I Abandon Myself into Your Hands

Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me whatever you choose. Whatever you do with me, I thank you.

I am ready for anything. I accept it all. Let your will be done in me, and in everything you have made — that is all I ask, my God.

I place my soul in your hands. I give it to you, my God, with all the love in my heart, because I love you, and because love needs to give itself away — to rest in your hands completely, holding nothing back, trusting without limit, because you are my Father.

Amen.

About This Prayer

Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916) was a French soldier who lost his faith, found it again, and ended his life as a hermit in the Sahara desert. This prayer grew out of his meditation on Jesus' last words from the cross — "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" — and it has become one of the most loved prayers of surrender in the Christian world. The version above is translated from the French freshly for this page, in plain English, staying close to his words.

In Plain Words

If you'd rather pray the same heart in your own words: Father, I stop gripping my life so tightly. Whatever comes, I trust you with it — my plans, my people, my future. I'm yours, because you're a good Father.

A Verse to Hold On To

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." — Luke 23:46 (KJV)