Hearing God Through Enemies

God speaks to us through the Scriptures. God speaks to us through creation. God speaks to us through our community. God speaks to us through our friends and leaders. God speaks to us through those that are different than us. This includes enemies. 

The source for every thought/word is God’s Spirit. The medium or language the Spirit uses to communicate may be different. Sometimes we are the medium, hearing the Holy Spirit directly. Sometimes that medium for us is other people and things.

Learning to hear God through our enemies is very powerful. God is often speaking to us in matters where we are blind and deaf. However, an enemy’s words and actions are sharp enough to penetrate our barriers to hear God’s voice.

Below are three categories of questions that when faithfully practiced will train us to hear God through others who are very different than us, especially enemies. If you are serious about avoiding racism and finding postures of tolerance that are healthy, these questions are worth your time.

Pure and unbiased discernment

“Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word” (1 Kings 3:11–12). 

• Is my discernment natural or spiritual? 

• Is my discernment based in a preference or value?

• Is my discernment being influenced by my culture, friends, beliefs, dreams, or fears?

• What circumstances are pressuring my discernment? 

• How is my larger worldview impacting my viewpoint? 

• What are my gut instincts telling me? 

• Why do I trust or not trust my gut? 

• Am I working from a first impression? 

• What root or logic is my first impression coming from? 

Perceiving and judging with wisdom

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). 

• How am I seeing God in this enemy?

• How are dissimilarities between this enemy and me causing discomfort or pain?

• What is Father God saying to me in difficulties through the agency of this person?

• In what new ways do I see myself? 

• How is God changing my inner character, my will and my spiritual capacity? 

• Am I judging this enemy too much or too quickly? 

• Do I hold my judgement rigidly or with openness? 

• Are there new judgements I should have regarding this enemy based on love, faith and hope? 

Giving attention to thoughts and feelings

“A fool gives vent to all his feelings, but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them” (Proverbs 29:11, Complete Jewish Bible).

• What is my rationale that this enemy is different than me? 

• In what ways are they similar to me?

• What is logical and illogical about my thoughts? 

• Have I created an action or accountability plan?

• Am I responding to this person thoughtfully or impetuously? 

• How do I feel about this enemy? 

• What is true and what is false about my feelings?

• Can I define my pain?

• Will I trust this pain to Papa God or protect it myself?  

• How does God feel (in faith, hope and love) about this person? 

• Can I let God’s feelings supersede mine own? 

• Would Jesus have died for them? 

• Would I die for them? 

• Would Jesus like to bring them increased blessing of himself? 

• Can I be a blessing of God’s kindness to this person? 

You can sign up for new blog email updates in the page footer.