By Hope Cook
Feb. 27, 2015

Romans 12:1 ESV — I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

One of my coworkers, whom I’ll call Sue, has an enlarged thyroid with a nodule on it.  She is preparing to have surgery to remove her thyroid gland, nodule and all.  She has been told that there is a “definite possibility” that the nodule is malignant and will require additional treatment after the surgery.  Sue has also been told by the surgeon that he can’t guarantee there won’t be damage to her vocal chords since the thyroid is very close to the chords.  She has a wonderful singing voice and has sung opera as well as in a gospel choir that performed at Carnegie Hall.  

Sue has seemed really stressed and upset lately, but she isn’t one to complain.  When she finally mentioned her upcoming surgery, I asked her what she needed prayers for specifically.  I was thinking that if it were me undergoing a scary surgery, I would want prayers for 1) benign results 2) no complications 3) no anxiety over surgery and especially, 4) a competent surgical team.  She surprised me with her answer: “I just hope I am a good witness to others through this experience”.  I stood there for a minute, thinking, “huh”?  She explained further, “I want God to be able to use me and this surgery and whatever comes after it for His purpose, whatever that may be”.  Wow.  I blinked back tears as I told her that just by her words she’d already done that with me, just now.  

Prayer: The words of this song came to mind: Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true.  And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary, for you.