Going in the same direction.  Moving forward together.  Shared goals.

Unity.

And it feels good when we’ve got it, doesn’t it?  But unity isn’t an easy thing to achieve.

There needs to be compromise – it doesn’t have to be all my way.  I have to take a look from other people’s perspective – there are other valid opinions.

Prioritizing – is it worth creating an issue?  Wisdom = losing a lot of battles in order to win the war.

And – if this is a battle that needs to happen – I’ve learned that much planning and selflessness needs to be included in figuring out how to bring up the issue.  Emotions need stay out of it because they cause me to over-react and say things that aren’t helpful.  Just because something is true doesn’t mean that I can say it anytime I want to.  The timing of discussions on difficult issues can determine success or failure.

I can get lost in the weeds.  Details that don’t really matter can derail me when I’m trying to discuss difficult issues, causing any forward movement to stop.  Sometimes I get so lost that I actually move backwards.  Very disappointing!  I know you’ve been there, too.

This is nothing new.  Unity has always been difficult to achieve but it’s very much worth the effort.  We read about the joy the Israelites experienced in Joshua when they avoided some serious conflict between groups merely by talking with each other.  One group thought the other group was rebelling while the 2nd group thought the first group was going to try to make an issue of where they were living in the future.  During their discussion, they realized that they worshipped the same God and they were on the same page.  “Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the LORD in this matter.  Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD’s hand.”  Joshua 22:31.

Unity.

We could use more of it, right?  Where can we get more unity?

From my experience, only God can bring real unity.

As my relationship with God grows, he is able to give me the wisdom and perspective I need to bring more unity into my life – more unity with my husband and family and more unity with my church family.

When we are all looking to God for direction and insight, God provides unity.  It’s his desire for us to live peacefully together and live a life full of joy.

In him, we are ‘like-minded’.

And we find joy.

Thank you, Abba Father.