God as my ally

[But] to this day I have had the help which comes from God [as my ally], and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, asserting nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses declared would come to pass - that the Christ (the Anointed One) must suffer and that He, by being the first to rise from the dead, would declare and show light both to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles. Acts 26:22-23 AMP

Have you ever thought of God as your ally? Here are a couple of definitions of ally ...

1. a nation formally cooperating or united with another for a special purpose, especially by treaty

2. a person or an organisation that co-operates with or helps another.

Here in scripture we have Paul saying that God, the creator of the universe, was his ally, in the special purpose of telling people, both Jewish and Gentile, the Good News. Paul knew that God had a specific job for him to do. He knew that God did not just commission him and send him on his way without any future contact or support. He knew that God would continually guide and instruct Him along the way, especially when the going got tough. Here is an example of God reassuring Paul during the sea voyage on Paul's journey to see Caesar.

And when neither sun nor stars were visible for many days and no small tempest kept raging about us, all our hope of being saved was finally abandoned. Then as they had eaten nothing for a long time, Paul came forward into their midst and said, Men, you should have listened to me, and should not have put to sea from Crete and brought on this disaster and harm and misery and loss. But [even] now I beg you to be in good spirits and take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you but only of the ship. For this [very] night there stood by my side an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve and worship, And he said, Do not be frightened, Paul! It is necessary for you to stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you all those who are sailing with you. Acts 27:20 - 25 AMP

After Paul has been reminded by God of what needs to happen and what will happen, Paul says this to the men on the ship.

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith (complete confidence) in God that it will be exactly as it was told me. Acts 27:25 AMP

What a great message for us to remember too, to keep up our courage, and have faith that it will be exactly as God has told us. So often we hear from God about our purpose and what He wants us to do, and start full of faith. But then as the obstacles come and keep coming we can tire and sometimes go off course. We need to remember that God is our ally. He will always help us. That help may not come when we expect it to, or as we expect it to, but it will come.

Question for today, are you facing a circumstance for which you need a really good ally, the best that there is? I encourage you to see God as your ally. God is the most faithful and trustworthy ally there is.