A Liturgy of Surrender

Advent prayers

photo by Pascal Debrunner, who hiked over 1000 meters for three hours in the darkness to get this shot.

The Lord invites us to tell Him our dreams. I love this about Him. And then, in His perfect way, He shows us how to position our hearts, with our aches and longings, in a posture that allows life and light to flow. Like a loving Physician, He helps align our souls with His Spirit so that we can receive His Best, which, aside from whatever gifts He offers with it, is always Himself.

This liturgy is a simple one He gave me to pray regularly. It is a prayer good for the Advent season—the not-yet, dark-of-night, winter sojourning. The waiting and the dying.

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Thank You, Lord

for giving me what You have.

Thank You, Lord

for not giving me what You haven’t

—whether for another season, or meant to fully die—

thank You for giving me grace when I need to wait

grace when I need to wholeheartedly sacrifice

grace when I need to endure long-suffering

grace to always be joyfully content.

Thank You, Lord

that hope in the Rescuer during the dark night

is a treasure as important as the rescue itself.

Thank You, Lord

for helping me trust You in the desert journey.

Thank You, Lord

for the grace to not crave meat when You have decreed manna.

Thank You, Lord

for giving me Best.

You are the Good Father

the Giver of good gifts.

You, Yourself, the utter best of all gifts.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.

Amen.