commentary "Our Gift to God" pp 123

Our Gift to God pp 123 

Our Gift to God explains how we answer the call to teachers of God that Jesus made on page 121 in the previous message, The Ending of the Dream. The Holy Spirit is mentioned twice. If you need clarity about the Holy Spirit's role, see the special thoughts just after Lesson 280. 

The first page of The Song of Prayer says 

“2 1 To you who are in time a little while, prayer takes the form that best will suit your need. 2 You have but one. 3 What God created one must recognize its oneness, and rejoice that what illusions seemed to separate is one forever in the Mind of God. 4 Prayer now must be the means by which God's Son leaves separate goals and separate interests by, and turns in holy gladness to the truth of union in his Father and himself.” 

Our Gift to God is about how we recognize oneness and share ourselves. As this message is groked and often applied, we are rising on the ladder of prayer. 

The first paragraph defines gratitude as 

love expressed in joining 

Gratitude is also central to the prayer (on page 119 in The Gifts of God book) at the end of an earlier message, The Two Gifts, where Jesus prays with us. When we pray with another we can pray with a sense of gratitude. 

Page 7 in The Song of Prayer says 

“ 7 The key to rising further still in prayer lies in this simple thought; this change of mind: 8 We go together, you and I. 2 1 Now it is possible to help in prayer, and so reach up yourself. 2 “ 

Page 124 in Our Gift to God says 

“My brother, there are many calls to you from those who lost their way and need your help in finding it again.” 

On page 14 The Song of Prayer explains about relationships: 

“5 1 What should I do for him, Your holy Son?" should be the only thing you ever ask when help is needed and forgiveness sought. 2 The form the seeking takes you need not judge. 3 And let it not be you who sets the form in which forgiveness comes to save God's Son. 4 The light of Christ in him is his release, and it is this that answers to his call. 5 Forgive him as the Christ decides you should, and be His eyes through which you look on him, and speak for Him as well. 6 He knows the need; the question and the answer. 7 He will say exactly what to do, in words that you can understand and you can also use. 8 Do not confuse His function with your own. 9 He is the Answer. 10 You the one who hears.” 

Our Gift to God teaches us how to pray freely with another, to allow Love to help those who know not how to give. On page 125 we are encouraged to echo the Holy Spirit's saying 

“ … let me give to God your gifts for you Because His altar waits  for them in love, And He is asking  that We place them there.” 

This is the mighty force gratitude. This mighty force can be a way healing intent is fulfilled  (i. e. some of the many calls to you, may present as a sickness) as described on pages 19 and 20 where The Song of Prayer says: 

 “4 1 Is there a role for healing, then, that one can use to offer help for someone else? 2 In arrogance the answer must be "no." 3 But in humility there is indeed a place for helpers. 4 It is like the role that helps in prayer, and lets forgiveness be what it is meant to be. 5 You do not make yourself the bearer of the special gift that brings the healing. 6 You but recognize your oneness with the one who calls for help. 7 For in this oneness is his separate sense dispelled, and it is this that made him sick. 8 There is no point in giving remedy apart from where the source of sickness is, for never thus can it be truly healed. 

5 1 Healers there are, for they are Sons of God who recognize their Source, and understand that all their Source creates is one with them. 2 This is the remedy that brings relief which cannot fail. 3 It will remain to bless for all eternity. 4 It heals no part, but wholly and forever. 5 Now the cause of every malady has been revealed exactly as it is. 6 And in that place is written now the holy Word of God. 7 Sickness and separation must be healed by love and union. 8 Nothing else can heal as God established healing. 9 Without Him there is no healing, for there is no love.” 

Here on page 125, Our Gift to God also echoes Lesson 195 of the Workbook Love is the Way I Walk in Gratitude, a great read which also contains a mighty force. 

Application (gratitude) 

We cannot say how our brother is presented, perhaps 

someone sick or weak or needy or afraid or mourning a seeming loss or  feeling pain or suffering cold or suffering hunger or
walking the way of hatred  or walking the way of death (e. g. a killer). 

This is an example of using the mighty force gratitude. This usage can only be done lovingly. Among your gifts to be placed, even if the only gift, is your feeling of love for your Creator ... which grows as memory of your Oneness strengthens.  

• Ask Jesus to help you, your brother, and He to be of one mind in the place of holy joining at God's altar to His Son, the Christ 
• Remember Oneness, recall that you and your brother and Jesus are part of God's one Son, the Christ 
• Place each of your brother's “gifts” (and yours) on the altar and surrender them to Jesus
• In stillness, with gratitude, and open empty hands, allow you and your brother to receive the gifts of God and Christ.