The Two Gifts and Lesson 323 I gladly make the “sacrifice” of fear

Lesson 323

I gladly make the “sacrifice” of fear

The Two Gifts (a poem at the end of The Gifts of God book) is a way to explain and accomplish Lesson 323 and it  enables the assist The Song of Prayer mentions on page 16:

“Prayer has both aids and witnesses which make the steep ascent more gentle and

more sure, easing the pain of fear and offering the comfort and the promises of hope.”

The Two Gifts message helps us be kind to ourselves. Our vigilance and seeing allows for an exchange of gifts, our deliverance from fear. The Song of Prayer clarifies the role that Jesus can fulfill (page 2) as he “stands beside us”:

“... Help in prayer does not mean that another mediates between you and God. But it does mean that another stands beside you and helps to raise you up to Him. … ”

• You can think of the ladder of prayer as a kind of bridge over troubled waters …

in one fell swoop Jesus lifts you above the chaos and confusion that so oft mucks up life, and sets you firmly on your sacred way, home.

The exchange of gifts takes place with Jesus' help, within our mind at God's altar to His son. On page 118 of The Two Gifts Jesus again offers help:

“Open your hands, and give all things to me that you have held against your

holiness and kept as slander on the son of God. …. And these (gifts of God)

I give to you to take the place of those you give to me in mercy on yourself.”

Jesus encourages us,

“ Practice with every one (i.e. every gift) you recognize as what it is.”

The mention of practice alludes to the mighty force of exchange.

The Two Gifts message ends with a prayer of gratitude (last two paragraphs page 119). Gratitude is defined in the Our Gift to God message as

“... love expressed in joining; the necessary precondition

for extension and the prerequisite for peace.”

Application of Exchange

Anxiety, any fear. I used it to replace a confusing night dream and felt more peaceful after doing so. 

This is an example of using the mighty force exchange:

I'm afraid to fly, I hate it

• Ask Jesus to help you and he be of one mind, in prayer, at God's altar to His son.

• Being grateful for inspired assistance, recall any (or every) flying experience.
• Look without judgment at each experience with Jesus, and place each one in his hands on the altar
• With gratitude and open empty hands, receive in exchange the gifts of God and Christ.