I once read an ancient African proverb that went like this: “When there is no enemy within, the enemies without cannot hurt you.” It was derived from the fact that when a village remained strongly united and everyone was in harmony they would be strong enough to resist any attempt by an enemy to be overrun.

The same is true of an individual. When your inner resolve is steady and sure; when you heart and mind are united in harmony; when your spirit and God’s spirit are as one, there is nothing the devil can bring against you that will conquer your soul. The secret behind this is not just commitment, but communication. When you let your heart and mind seek agreement, and when you keep the conversation between you and the One you love most always fresh, a sudden jolt will not knock you off balance and an unexpected confrontation will not cause you to crumble.

And what is true of an individual is true of a relationship, a family, a neighborhood, a city, and a nation. But there must be a common bond that holds all of this together. That brings to mind an old Irish saying that goes: “The family that prays together, stays together,” which is said to be based on Proverbs 15:29. So in this time of fighting, factions, friction, and fault-finding, the one place where all can find agreement is at the feet of Jesus. – Dr. Robert R. Seyda