Can I "give away" my free will to God?

[NowAndTheEnd]

I know that God gives us free will, and that He gives us grace to follow His will, and I know it is only by His grace that we can follow His will, and that following His will is how we get to heaven (and if any of this is wrong, please feel free to help me tweak it). Is it wrong to ask God to “take away” my free will so that I only do His will? I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this question but I’m curious as to the reasons why.

 

[Vico]

I know that God gives us free will, and that He gives us grace to follow His will, and I know it is only by His grace that we can follow His will, and that following His will is how we get to heaven (and if any of this is wrong, please feel free to help me tweak it). Is it wrong to ask God to “take away” my free will so that I only do His will? I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this question but I’m curious as to the reasons why.

God will not grant every request but only what is in accord with His providence. Since free will is how we merit, it would not be in a person’s best interest to loose free will. Rather we should ask for guidance.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

Are you familiar with this prayer?

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

OP, have you read about St. Ignatius and or looked into Ignatian spirituality?

 

[PJM]

You are correct if that soul actually does know GODS Will; and THEN does it [singular per defined issue] for example the great multiplicity of Christian faiths can’t ALL be doing HIS WILL can they?

GBY

Patrick

 

[po18guy]

He gifted you with free will and He does not want it back. He simply wants you to use it properly and orient it solely to Him. If you have no free will, then you cannot love. He deserves to be loved above all things.

 

[DaveBj]

Heh-heh. I am fully aware that God gave us free will and doesn’t want it back, but it still is a frequent prayer of mine that He would take back my free will, put a ring in my nose, and drag me into the paths of righteousness.

D

 

[NowAndTheEnd]

^This is really what I’m getting at

 

[NowAndTheEnd]

That’s a really cool prayer, thank you for sharing. I’ve heard of Ignatian spirituality and I used to listen to the God in All Things podcast so I’m somewhat familiar with it but not as much as I should be. Do you have some reading suggestions?