It is said that truth is truth no matter where you find it. On my flights home yesterday, I read a novel and it contained these wise words.

“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.”

I find that to be true. I have worked tirelessly to make friends with myself. As that has become reality, I find not only are there less enemies without, the ones I encounter no longer have the same power to manipulate or control me. I am set free from discouraging forces.

Jesus said this:

“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””
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Matthew 22:37-40

Loving oneself is the key to eliminating the enemy within. When I am able to love who I am, I love others more fully. When I am loving others as people with potential, created in God’s image, I no longer see them as my enemies.

That’s a win-in for everyone. Who can you love unconditionally today? Consider extending an olive branch to someone you have previously considered an enemy. If it’s difficult, perhaps the problem is within rather than without so take a moment to consider who the enemies within might be.

Now that’s deep thinking for this Thursday morning.