Can satan Read Our Minds?

[Jacinth]

I really don't know the answer to this. All I know is that satan gets into my head a lot, especially while I'm praying silently. I can be driving to work and I'm praying silently in my mind; not saying anything out loud, and satan attacks me with vicious thoughts. Doesn't that prove he can read our minds?

I'm such a young Christian so don't think I'm stupid; I'm just trying to learn.

God bless all those who take the time to respond. I love you.

[RobinB]

I don't believe he can read what's on our minds, only see our actions. However, he can send signals and put ideas into our minds, unaware of the effect until we act or don't act on them.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

[GloryBound]

NO, he can't read our minds. But as Robin said, he can put thoughts into our minds and it's up to us to accept or reject them.

Also, I've discovered that when we pray, since our prayers really do reach heaven, and God sets in motion answers to our prayers, that satan does find out that we have been praying, even if it's silent. He can't read our minds but sometimes has access to what's going on spiritually, so that way can attack us.

[B A N E]

Consider that he's had a long time to learn how to read people's expressions,
mannerisms, behavior.

It's not mind reading, it's reading people.
It is not dissimilar to playing poker.
A good poker player can read novices like a book.

[Kyrie Eleison]

No, he can't read our minds. He can, however, affect our minds by placing evil thoughts in us that we then think are our own! :mad

[inretire]

Jacinth,
Thank you for asking a good question. I'll be honest and quite frank. I don't know the full extent of Satan's capabilities but I do know that he is an extremely powerful, cunning, deceitful, lying, cheating, murdererous being. All I can say is keep your eyes on Jesus, persuade yourself that you cannot live a Christian life apart from him. Surrender your life to him and put all of your trust in him. That's what I know for sure.

[Jacinth]

I'm trying to remember...I vaguely remember someone telling me that Satan asks permission to do things to us. Is this really true?

I just can't believe how he immediately knows when I'm praying. It scares me. I don't want him in my head.

[twelvesmaster]

I'm trying to remember...I vaguely remember someone telling me that Satan asks permission to do things to us. Is this really true?

I just can't believe how he immediately knows when I'm praying. It scares me. I don't want him in my head.

This verse might help you understand what Satan does:

1PE 5:8-11 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Yes, he's constantly watching. But in order for him to have the power you imagine, he'd have to be omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. In other words, infinite in all ways. Only God is all those things.

Don't worry -- you're serving a God who can fight all your battles for you -- who has indeed already been victorious.

And yes you're right, Satan operates only by permission. Never forget that God loves you so much He sent His son to die for you. You will never be tempted beyond your power to resist.

[Chronus]

I'm trying to remember...I vaguely remember someone telling me that Satan asks permission to do things to us. Is this really true?

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." - Luke 22:31-32

Also read chapters 1 and 2 in the book of Job. Satan is given limitations as to what he can do.

Isn't it nice to know that Satan NEEDS God's permission to do anything? Even when He gives Satan permission to do something to you (as He did in regard to Job) we can "know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him . . . " - Romans 8:28.

[Xanadu]

I'm not trying to scare you or anything, PLEASE don't think that. Everyone is right, satan can put a thought in your head and then he sits back and watches your reaction to that thought. The bad thing is, though, is that we can't even hide our reaction sometimes. Satan notices our physical reactions, like a eye opening during a prayer, or maybe even a sigh, or a glance with our eyes. He notices everything. He notices if our breathing pattern changes, or if we fidgit (sp). It's really imposible sometimes to hide a reaction. You just have to remember that he has NO control over you and you have your Heavenly Father on your side! :thumb

Like I said I'm not trying to scare you, I just want you to know that satan is the king of psychology and "people studying" he's been doing it since he was created ( created by GOD I might add! ) He's just a coward and the king of lies and evil. I can't wait for the day that the Lord puts him where he belongs!!!

[RonnieBee]

I really don't know the answer to this. All I know is that satan gets into my head a lot, especially while I'm praying silently. I can be driving to work and I'm praying silently in my mind; not saying anything out loud, and satan attacks me with vicious thoughts. Doesn't that prove he can read our minds?

I'm such a young Christian so don't think I'm stupid; I'm just trying to learn.

God bless all those who take the time to respond. I love you.

I hope this passage from James will help you as it did me when I was a baby Christian.


James 4:1-10 / ESV-Bible-Online
Warning Against Worldliness
4:1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions [1] are at war within you? [2] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.


Edit to add:

And this is the way we cleanse our hearts.

Psalm 139:23-24 / ESV-Bible-Online
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts! [3]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! [4]

[Medic911]

Unless someone can produce Scripture clearly indicating he can't, I'm somewhat inclined to believe he can. I base this on the fact that he can possess people. If a demon or satan can indwell someone, and actually influence their behavior and control their actions, then I would think he can know their thoughts.

Good question.

:confused

[blitzkreig]

Unless someone can produce Scripture clearly indicating he can't, I'm somewhat inclined to believe he can. I base this on the fact that he can possess people. If a demon or satan can indwell someone, and actually influence their behavior and control their actions, then I would think he can know their thoughts.I'm also pretty sure that to Satan just knowing thoughts could be small change. He can do miracles which are on the Biblical Scale. Many will be deceived. That isn't done by slight of hand alone...

[KristinC]

No, he can't read our minds. He can, however, affect our minds by placing evil thoughts in us that we then think are our own! :mad

YES! I went through this awhile ago where I would have these horrible, horrible thoughts and I thought they were from me. I felt like I was such a horrible person because I was having these thoughts, but then I realized that I am not a bad person and I figured out where the thoughts were coming from. I prayed.

[D'Light]

Medic,

I tend to agree with you! God hears our thoughts and our words, he know our actions and he knows our hearts. I have been told that satan cannot hear our thoughts, but I have doubt about this.

Is there a Bible verse, that states, that satan indeed 'cannot' hear our thoughts? I think satan knows what is in our hearts, because he uses that to his advantage, so how can he not know our thoughts? :confused


Jacinth,

I know something that does help with this. Do not do your praying late at night or in bed when you are real tired. Do not pray when you are very 'preoccupied' with other things! At these times, our minds are not totally focused on Christ and our heart for the prayers. I think these times, it is easy for our thoughts to drift and wander. I have a bad habit of praying the night prayers too late at night, and it really makes a difference.

I myself need to get into the habit of praying when very "alert" (as God says to be), especially the extensive prayers for problems and prayers for others.

Praise prayers are easier to do anytime of the day.

[Jacinth]

Do not do your praying late at night or in bed when you are real tired. Do not pray when you are very 'preoccupied' with other things! At these times, our minds are not totally focused on Christ and our heart for the prayers. I think these times, it is easy for our thoughts to drift and wander. I have a bad habit of praying the night prayers too late at night, and it really makes a difference.

I know exactly what you are saying. Thank you for these wonderful words of wisdom. I didn't realize I was doing this until you brought it to my attention. D'Light, do you read minds?:laugh

Seriously, I'm going to change my prayer patterns today!

[Jacinth]

I've done some really serious internet searching on satan reading our minds. It's like I can't shake this. I don't want any part of that evil in me.


I'm discovering that there's no one single verse that very conveniently tells us that satan does/does not read our minds. I did find something that was written and I'll see if I can find the link again. I hope I'm not breaking any rules, admins. You won't hurt my feelings if you remove this.


We infer that Satan cannot read our minds for a number of reasons. First, Satan is a created being, originally a powerful angel (see Ezekiel 28:13,14). Though he aspired to be like God (see Isaiah 14:13,14), he is not God's equal in any way. Only God has the ability to be everywhere--all present, all-knowing and all-powerful. Therefore, only God has complete and continual knowledge of our minds' activities (see Psalm

139) . Second, everywhere in the Bible that angels or demons interact with people or God, information must be exchanged through communication. Certainly if Satan could have read Jesus' mind, he would have altered his doomed strategy in the temptations he devised (see Matthew 4:1-11). Instead, the devil tries different temptations, and each time Jesus resists him verbally, using the sword of the Spirit as we are called to do (see Ephesians 6:17). Third, in Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar wisely demanded that his Chaldean sorcerers reveal the content of both of his dreams before interpreting them in order to validate the divine origin of the interpretation.
The sorcerers were stumped because they knew their normal sources of power and information (demons) could not read the king's mind. Only God is the true revealer of such mysteries (see Daniel 2:11, 22, 28, 29, 47). Certainly, if Satan had been able to read the king's mind, he would have been able to keep Daniel from advancing in the king's service. What Satan can affect, apparently, is one's thought processes through the flesh. He is, for instance, indicted for blinding the minds of the unbelieving (see 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4), and he darkens their understanding (see Ephesians 2:1-3 and 4:17-19). He and his demons can communicate false doctrine (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:8; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 John 4:1-3), and his demons can impact the thoughts of believers as well.

Satan is credited for prompting Ananias to lie to the Holy Spirit (see Acts 5:1-3), for moving David to consider his own strengths when he numbered the people of Israel (see 1 Chronicles 21:1, 2), for inspiring Peter's resistance to Christ's statement about His impending death (see Matthew 16:23), for inspiring worldly wisdom rooted in jealousy and ambition (see James 3:14,15; 4:7), and for leading minds away from devotion to Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11:3). It isn't hard for Satan to know what you're thinking when he gives you the thoughts!

Furthermore, Satan and his demons use deception to give the impression they can read minds and know the future through divination and fortune-telling (see Acts 16:16,17). Satan has also had opportunities since the beginning of creation to observe human behavior. As a result, he has a thorough working knowledge of human behavior. He has learned what he must do to derive certain behaviors from the person he attacks. He can also influence events by influencing key leaders. He uses this deception to give the impression he is like God, able to read minds and control the future. But remember that Christ has triumphed over Satan and, in Christ, you have the responsibility to resist him in submission to God. When you do, he will flee (see Colossians 3:15; James 4:7). (Taken from Freedom In Christ)

God allowed the devil his experiment; Job lost his livestock, many servants, and even the lives of his children. How did Job react? "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.' In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (Job 1:20-22) So, the devil certainly did not know what Job would do. He had not read Job's mind; he had simply made a guess based on his observations (his walking to and fro, and up and down in the earth) and he was wrong.

[D'Light]

Jacinth,

Thank-you so much for those!!

That does show how satan fools us to thinking he has control, 'putting' thoughts in our minds, not reading our minds.

I pray silently most of the time, is this alright to do, since God knows our thoughts. But should I pray out loud when satan is trying to interupt my praying? I mean as far as verbally denying satan and verbally praising the Lord.

[rtd2]

by glorybound....."NO, he can't read our minds. But as Robin said, he can put thoughts into our minds and it's up to us to accept or reject them.

Also, I've discovered that when we pray, since our prayers really do reach heaven, and God sets in motion answers to our prayers, that satan does find out that we have been praying, even if it's silent. He can't read our minds but sometimes has access to what's going on spiritually, so that way can attack us."






First NO satan CANT read our minds Christ is OMNI-PRESENT, satan is NOT.
now from past expireince I have started Praising Christ out loud in my prayers. If I'm in need of something or fearful of something I NEVER SPEAK THIS OUTLOAD but pray in my mind thus trying to protect the enemy from uses my fears and prayers AGAINST ME! IT WORKS! I have went as far as not talking to friends, family ect. about things I know the enemy can use against me ! I take it to christ!

[D'Light]

rtd2

Thanks!

That might be a good idea!! Because when me and two of my sisters(both Christian) discuss some bad things going on in our lives, it always seems to get worse. but We need each other to talk to for support also. I quess we could discuss things then praise God. :thumb

[antitox]

Unless someone can produce Scripture clearly indicating he can't, I'm somewhat inclined to believe he can. I base this on the fact that he can possess people. If a demon or satan can indwell someone, and actually influence their behavior and control their actions, then I would think he can know their thoughts.

Good question.

:confused

Medic, Satan who was an angel cannot read minds because he is only an angel. God is the only one who can search the heart and mind; no one else can. If satan could read your mind, you wouldn't stand a chance of keeping your mind under control for one minute....he'd have your number every moment.

[GloryBound]

I think sometimes we forget that when we pray, even if it's silent, those prayers don't STAY in our minds. They go right to the throne of God in heaven. So when we get all bent out of shape because satan knows what we prayed about, he didn't get that information from our minds. Trust me, I've been there.

One day years ago I was at work and a coworker was really upset with me. Reason? She told me exactly what I had prayed the night before, and she was angry. I was angrier. I knew she was a witch but how did she find that stuff out? I mean I was really mad at God. I thought all that stuff was supposed to kept secret.

I had been getting a lot of hard spiritual warfare. And I prayed for relief. The source was this woman. And when I prayed, her demon "friends" had to go. And naturally she was angry and blamed me. Yep, it was my fault. And of course satan knew. He didn't read my mind, he only saw God's mighty army of angels coming to help me and fight off his demons. And I suppose those demons probably told my coworker why they had to leave. Because I had prayed for that.

I had to repent of my anger. And I realized that when we pray, stuff happens that we can't see. Of course satan and his buddies are going to be upset. And that's a good thing.

[Jacinth]

So Medic, what are your thoughts now that you've read more of this? I always hold your thoughts in such high regard. I hope I'm not putting you on the spot. You can PM me if you like.

I think I've come to the conclusion that Satan cannot read our minds. I feel comforted in that thought.

[blitzkreig]

I think I've come to the conclusion that Satan cannot read our minds. I feel comforted in that thought.No wonder he has earned the title of "the great deceiver" ... :doh

So I guess that with that conclusion one would think a deaf/mute person could be nearly impervious to temptation ... certainly Satan would be put at a great disadvantage...

[inretire]

I don't know how one can say unequivocally that satan can or cannot know our thoughts. I can't say one way or the other because I don't know the full extent of his power and neither does anyone else. Who can say for sure what is going on in the spirit realm and the battles of good and evil? What has GOD allowed him to do and how far GOD has allowed him to go? I do not know!

[RonnieBee]

I Corin 14:24-25 / NIV
24But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.”

After doing a deep word study on several words such as thoughts, Heart, and Discerning, I have this to report.

1. Evil thoughts come from the heart of man, but they can be placed in our hearts by Satan, as he did with Judas, when he put the thought of betrayal in his heart.

2. Evil entered the heart of man in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.

3. Only God can discern the thoughts or our hearts, except in rare occaisions when he allows the gift of discernment to occur in church, for the purpose of convicting sinners, as in the example above.

4. Once we are saved and receive the Spirit of God back into our hearts, he helps us to resist the evil thoughts that pop into our minds from our hearts. That is why Paul said he saw a war of good and evil going on within his own mind.

Romans 7:21-25 / NKJV
21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

[happy girl]

I've had experiences like that. He knows what I'm afraid of so he uses that to try and scare me. I'm sure he does it to everybody if they let them. I just start thinking about God and it goes away, and/ or I will pray. Twice I had been in bed, afraid and prayed in my mind and I felt -what felt like- a large warm hand was pressing gently on me, it was comforting. It reminded me of how a baby must feel when it is held tight. I would go to sleep soon after. It was truly amazing, but it happened twice. I know our father is with us, even when we are scared or in pain. :):

[Jacinth]

No wonder he has earned the title of "the great deceiver" ... :doh

So I guess that with that conclusion one would think a deaf/mute person could be nearly impervious to temptation ... certainly Satan would be put at a great disadvantage...:rolleyes

[overcomer]

Another powerful weapon to use against the enemy is our heavenly prayer language - speaking in tongues. It is a language that cries out to God our inner most thoughts and requests that Satan cannot decifer. He probably can deduce what was prayed for by the outcome or response to the prayer, but that language is a protected hotline to God. Baptized in the Spirit? Then you know all about this, if not, it's worth looking into.

[blitzkreig]

Another powerful weapon to use against the enemy is our heavenly prayer language - speaking in tongues. It is a language that cries out to God our inner most thoughts and requests that Satan cannot decifer. He probably can deduce what was prayed for by the outcome or response to the prayer, but that language is a protected hotline to God. Baptized in the Spirit? Then you know all about this, if not, it's worth looking into.So by your comment I decipher that you feel that the "gift" of tongues is "worth looking into"... interesting.

Not particularly scriptural but telling none the less...

Where does one "look into" acquiring such a gift? Would you care to elaborate? Is one place better than another?

[CanaanBound]

I have noticed in my walk with King Jesus, whenever I am careless with my tongue--the devil attacks me. Whenever I sin with my actions, the devil attacks me. So the answer is NO...he cannot read our thoughts. Resist the devil and he will flee. Of course, one must have the Holy Spirit in them in order for this truth to be applied.

[RonnieBee]

So by your comment I decipher that you feel that the "gift" of tongues is "worth looking into"... interesting.

Not particularly scriptural but telling none the less...

Where does one "look into" acquiring such a gift? Would you care to elaborate? Is one place better than another?

The first place to look is in the Book of Acts, or The Acts of the Apostles. Read it and study it until the truth seeps in to your spirit. :nod

[rtd2]

ORIGINAL POST BY OVERCOMER...."Another powerful weapon to use against the enemy is our heavenly prayer language - speaking in tongues. It is a language that cries out to God our inner most thoughts and requests that Satan cannot decifer. He probably can deduce what was prayed for by the outcome or response to the prayer, but that language is a protected hotline to God. Baptized in the Spirit? Then you know all about this, if not, it's worth looking into.?




AMEN! tounges is such a beautiful GIFT there are several gifts of the spirit of which I think tounges is my favorite its such a personal touch with GOD its hard to explain.I believe when praying in tounges(as the spirit give utterance of course) I'm at my nearest point to GOD. a message given out in tounges is always special too and you can always sense its near ...crying babies are silent ect. in honor of the presence of the holy spirit but I think praying in or with tougnes just me and GOD is even more special. Thank you Lord for your spirit which dwells in me and all my christian Brothers and sisters! :clap :clap :clap

[Jacinth]

Some of us don't have the gift of tongues and because of that, I'd almost rather not get into tongues here. I believe it will make us think that those of us who don't have the gift will be more susceptible to satanic attack. Maybe I misconstrued what was said, I don't know.

[toddlemom]

Jacinth, here's something about enemy forces coming ot capture Elisha the prophet ... 2 Kings 6:15-17 ... his servant was scared to death but Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the servant's eyes, and then the servant was able to see the chariots of the Lord surrounding them.

I think the Lord is taking care of us, too :thumb

Hope that makes sense ... like the old song says, Greater is he that is in me, than he who is in the world.

YSIC
Ann

[rtd2]

original by jacinth....".Some of us don't have the gift of tongues and because of that, I'd almost rather not get into tongues here. I believe it will make us think that those of us who don't have the gift will be more susceptible to satanic attack. Maybe I misconstrued what was said, I don't know."








Fair enough request BUT I would say the rolls would be reversed from your description above! :(:

[†MARANATHA†]

1 Corinthians 12
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

These are all gifts given by the Holy spirit :):

[Jacinth]

Fair enough request BUT I would say the rolls would be reversed from your description above! :(::confused


These are all gifts given by the Holy spirit :): I understand that. We don't all have the same gifts. If I have the gift of speaking in tongues, the Holy Spirit hasn't yet shown me that I do.

[rtd2]

Jackith I understand your feelings. I use to pray to receive the gift of tounges everday for years It didnt happen then one tuesday morning in prayer on the way to work it HAPPEND funny but looking back I was praying for tounges to fit in my local church. I have thankfully moved on from that church-belief and realize that the gift of tounges was given to me not in my time of choosing but gods! it doesent happen to everyone and I certainly dont feel better than anyone else you may get a different gift such as profit of healing but you already have the best gift SALVATION :clap

[Morningstarlet]

Only God knows our hearts, so therefore I believe only God can read our minds. If satan could read our minds then I have to believe he would also know our hearts.

[RonnieBee]

James 1:2-8 / NKJV
2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

If you desire a gift from God, all you have to do is ask for it. Gifts are received by accepting them. After you have accepted them, you use your gift of the measure of faith given at the time of salvation to believe you have received it. Then you begin using it.

If you desire the Gift of tongues, ask for it and believe you have received it.

The Holy Spirit does not have a physical mouth with which to speak, but he gives you the words...words to speak, this is called the unction of the spirit. Once you receive these words, then YOU must speak them to make the gift operate.

May the Lord of Love guide you into all truth, Amen.
Ronnie Bee