It has been written that Jesus put a face on God. Our Sunday school class begins with prayer requests and devotion before the lesson itself. Some of the names we are able to put a face to but many are people and situations we are not familiar with. The current series we are studying is about Prayer. The lessons were written by Randy Cross and have opened our collective eyes and minds to the power of prayer as a means of establishing and strengthening our relationship with God. Much has been written and said about prayer as a part of the Christian life or the lack of it. This blog is about us, the people in the pews, “a laymen’s view of the gospel” so to speak. I have no formal education in theology therefore I will not attempt to share with you some new and astonishing stuff about prayer. Instead I will share with you a moment of revelation shared with our class by a very special lady.

It has been almost a year that our class has been praying for a lady who was diagnosed as having stage four colon cancer. This has been a powerful series for our class, taught by a wonderful and spirit led lady who brought us a gift so few see. Today we met the lady we have been praying for, some of us for the first time. She is still fighting the battle, but she is not at war. This is not a feel good story, and the end has not been written. The lady has “given over” her life to God’s will. The cancer is still there but has diminished in mass and now there is the possibility of other procedures that were never thought to be possible. She walks this road every day knowing that God walks with her and her needs will be met. It’s not about healing, it is about strengthening the bond of faith between her and her God….so that his will might be done. We added an extra week to the study and this morning Renee put a face on prayer as she joined us to share her journey so far. The road she walks is subject to the events of this life, but her destination lies with the creator of all life in who our resurrection and life everlasting is assured through the death and resurrection of his Son. She spoke openly of her fears, her hopes and most importantly about the reality of prayer in situations that overwhelm and intimidate. Renee put a face on our prayers and we were able to see the power of prayer in her face. She gave us a gift I would like to share with you.

Prayer of Relinquishment
Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You.
May Your will be my delight today.
May You have perfect sway in me.
May your love be the pattern of my living.
I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions.
Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will.
I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.
I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your Kingdom on earth.
For Jesus’ sake, Amen.`