An ally for every nation
It would seem that more than ever countries, regions, and organizations around the world are leaning on strong and strategic allies for safety or for political and economic gain. Such relationships have been and will continue to be important. But do advantageous alliances really come from governments, businesses, and people? Even at their best, human allies are not guarantees because they are based on changing circumstances and imperfect human personalities. By their nature, they will never be fully dependable as they cannot promise complete assurance.
There is, however, one unchangeable, wholly dependable, and universally available ally – and that is God. His support is reliable, effective, and unconditional, and it’s freely and joyously given to each of His children – that’s you, me, everyone in every organization or nation. God, the all-knowing, infinite Mind, created His universe intact, harmonious, and fully supplied. In her book “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, speaks of this all-embracing presence of God. She writes, “God is at once the centre and circumference of being” (pp. 203-204).
One of the best ways to experience that God is in control and unequivocally providing for everyone’s needs is indicated in the Lord’s Prayer – Christ Jesus’ prayer, which is deeply helpful to those wanting to learn more about God as the source of all good. It reads: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever” (Matthew 6:9-13).
Many years ago, I found it necessary to look to God’s government and supremacy in a difficult work situation. I had started a new job but was not made aware of the numerous challenges associated with the position. Instead of having one boss, I had 12. And rather than being viewed as a motivated and skilled employee working for the best interests of the company, I was seen and treated as a necessary evil – someone who could get the work done but whose salary was also cutting into the take-home pay of the 12. No matter how hard I tried, there was resentment, hostility, and disrespect on a daily basis. I felt alone and defeated. I needed an ally.
As a lifelong student of Christian Science, I was used to turning to God for answers. I knew that He who is divine Love was governing and this understanding would bring a solution for this situation. Turning to a spiritual view of God, my fellow man, and myself would be essential. I was certain of this because the Bible had taught me that we were made in God’s perfect image. Praying to know and demonstrate my relationship to God had brought healing solutions countless times. So I knew praying to understand God and man better could bring answers to the problems in my job. As I began to pray, I heard myself saying the first words of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father which art in heaven,” – not my Father or your Father but our Father – not one boss or multiple bosses but one divine employer of us all. Next I stated a correlating passage from Mrs. Eddy’s spiritual interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father-Mother God, all-harmonious” (Science and Health, p. 16). I started to feel at peace, so I kept the entire Lord’s Prayer and its spiritual interpretation in the forefront of my thought for weeks. I gave deep consideration to its meaning and made that effort the foundation of my day.
After praying this way, I discovered that I felt more love for the people around me, and I reacted less to problems. Several months later, the individual who hired me called me into his office. He told me that he couldn’t believe I hadn’t quit due to the way I had been treated. He then said that he noticed that the environment was improving and asked that I please keep doing whatever it was that I was doing. Challenges continued to arise from time to time, but I was grateful for the improved relationships with all involved. As long as I focused on God’s great love for all, I was unimpressed and unshaken by the circumstances. I stayed in that job for nearly a decade and was able to make significant contributions and harmoniously support my co-workers – something that never would have been possible had I not turned to our Father as an ally.
God, Mind, really is our greatest ally. We can feel His divine assurance as we love, forgive, and love even more. No matter what our nationality or what the issue, we can all realize peace, sufficiency, and abundance by uniting our hearts with this one Mind.
