When I first heard the song “Abandoned” by Benjamin William Hastings, it wrecked me. It convicted me of all I was withholding from God. There were many lyrics that struck me deep, of which I picked a few to use, in hopes that they give language like they did for me. 

Give

“The failures I hide, the victories I don’t, the battles I fight, each crown that I hoard consider it Yours, Lord consider it Yours, Lord” Abandoned – Benjamin William Hastings

“I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2:20

Before hearing this song, I had never heard the word abandoned used to describe the attitude in which we need to have in response to God. The more I think about it, the more I love it. It captures the total turn from old life and sprinting after new, not withholding any part of your life. It may be obvious to give God the best parts, but God calls for us to give every part, including the parts we don’t go around sharing. I love how this song puts it. As human nature has it, we often show off our victories, but are terrified to let our failures see the light of day. I am not saying we should share our losses with everyone, but we must include them when we give God everything. 

Surrender

“You’re telling me you chose the cross? You’re telling me I’m worth that much” Abandoned – Benjamin William Hastings

“Oh, my life, my one-life endeavor to match Your surrender to mirror not my will, but Yours” Abandoned – Benjamin William Hastings

“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath] from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

When we look to the cross and the price that Jesus willingly paid on our behalf, there is no response that is fitting other than giving God our everything, anything less and we will have fallen short. That response is fueled not by a glance to the cross, but a wonder of God as we continually sit at the feet of the cross looking up to Christ. There are many truths that call for repeated dwelling in, the work done on the cross by Jesus is definitely one of them. We will never grasp the full scope of it. On the other hand, when we step back and see what we have done for God, it doesn’t even come close, never will. The point is not to do as much as God, but to be encouraged to live for Christ. As the second line states, our life should be devoted to mirroring Jesus’ statement of “not my will but Yours”. We are to abandoned our will and pick up and run with God’s. 

Freely

“I’m completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned, I’m completely, freely, hands to the ceiling enamored” Abandoned – Benjamin William Hastings

“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

One of the biggest excuses to not go all in and be abandoned for God is how we might be perceived, I struggled with that for the longest time. I would experience these moments of encouragement, but when it came down to actually living it out, I would stop myself due to the reason that someone might think of me lesser. The lyric I put over this section not only shows what it looks like to be abandoned for God in the face of the outlook from others, but I believe it sneakily shows how to have it. We are to be completely enamored with God. Not a passing appreciation, but a heart stayed on Him. The key to being abandoned beyond outlook is to be enamored by God and what He’s done more than what people around you think. The great news is that the more you look and learn about God, the more you will find to be fully enamored by. Continually look to Him and all that He does and be completely, deeply, sold-out, sincerely abandoned.