How Does Satan Engage People
There are not a lot of places in the Bible where we can read about Satans interaction with humans but there is one very famous incident that gives us some insight.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?
The woman said to the serpent, We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.
You will not certainly die, the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:1-5
I am sure you are probably aware of this story regarding the fall. I want to show you one thing about Satan from this encounter that will help you learn a little more about him and reveal whether or nor Satan can read our minds.
When God Speaks Through Your Mind It Will Never Violate His Nature
God is love. . Therefore, He doesnt operate outside of His nature as love. We can take a look at 1 Corinthians to see how love operates. These verses describe the very nature of God.
Love suffers long and is kind love does not envy love does not parade itself, is not puffed up does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Did you know that God is always kind to you? He is patient with you and always uplifting. God will always encourage you. He delights in you and always believes the best about you.
Love is righteous and pure, so He will never instruct you to do something immoral or dishonest.
Thoughts that are harsh or condemning are not from God because love is gentle and uplifting. Thoughts that make you feel like a loser are not from God, because love will never condemn you or beat you down.
Even when God corrects you, He does so by reminding you of who you really are. He is the adoring Father that will remind you that the actions you are doing are not in line with who you really are. He will cause you to rise up to who you really are in Christ. He reminds you that you are righteous, holy, and beloved.
What Should I Do With These Thoughts
It is all too easy to see these wandering thoughts as a distraction preventing us from focusing on God, because they can feel like worries or anxieties blocking us from thinking about ‘holy’ things.
In fact, having noisy mind is actually a sign that we might benefit from more time in quiet contemplation!
Scientists have discovered that those who regularly practise meditation and contemplative prayer have far less activity going on in their default mode network. Prayer gives the brain the chance to process these thoughts and so it can exist in a far less frantic state. It still does what it needs to do, but is much more peaceful!
Did you ever read the children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt ? A family sets out on an expedition to catch a bear, and on the way they come across all sorts of obstacles blocking their path. Each time they come across a new obstacle, such as a particularly big and muddy puddle, they look for a way to get around it. But they realise that they can’t. There is nothing for it:
“We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it…oh no! We’ll have to go through it!”
As we set out to encounter the living God, we need to take a lesson out of this book! Our brains are crying out to us for the chance to process the noise we have in our minds, and the only way to still that internal noise is to go through it.
Then, eventually, something happened.
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Jesus Could Hear Peoples Thoughts
When Jesus came to earth, He was fully God and fully man. He was the exact representation of God .
Jesus was spirit-led all the time, constantly getting direction and insight from the Holy Spirit, including the insight into peoples thoughts, even the thoughts of their hearts. As He listened to His Father, He knew peoples thoughts.
But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Luke 5:22
But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, Arise and stand here. And he arose and stood. Luke 6:8
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. Luke 11:17
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? Matthew 9:4
Although Jesus could have known everyones thoughts all the time because He is God, He chose to lay down His deity and operate as a man on the earth, dependent on the Father just as we are. He was able to hear peoples thoughts as the Father showed them to Him. The humility of God is awe-inspiring!
Why Was Jacob Favored Over Esau
This goes back to the question of Gods sovereignty. Romans 9-11 is a key passage in this discussion. So why does Jacob get the nod over Esau? Well, purely Gods grace. Thats what I would say, because Jacob is not a good guy. If you read the story of Jacob in the Old Testament book of Genesis, hes not a good guy at all. And Esau is not a good guy, either. Esau apparently did not recognize the calling of the birthright, and he was willing to sell his birthright. But thats a whole other discussion.
But the key is to recognize that even before Jacob and Esau were born, there was an election placed upon Jacob. This is one of the passages which many Calvinists grab hold of and say, See the sovereign grace of God? He chooses apart from anything that these guys had done, and says, Jacob I have loved, and Esau I have hated.
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Can You Pray In Your Head A Personal Prayer Answered
In Wake Up to Wonder, I share a wondrous answer God sent to a prayer that I prayed only in my head. While on a trip to Israel, I broke away from my tour group to pray for the people of Syria, who were caught up in a tragic civil war nearby. I sat down, closed my eyes, and simply poured out my thoughts and emotions to God silently. I chose not to pray out loud because I didnt want to interrupt our guides tour narration and distract my fellow travelers. But I felt compelled to pray, so I did so in my head. After a few minutes of heartfelt silent prayer, I opened my eyes and saw a magnificent white horse standing right in front of me. In awe, I gazed into the horses eyes and felt a strong sense of love and peace. I even felt that somehow, the horse had heard and understood my silent, yet fervent prayer. Then these thoughts came to me: God loves every soul in Syria completely. Gods heart breaks over the war there. God wants all people to have compassion on each other. Gods permissive will allows war to happen, perhaps to allow good to win over evil. The horse stayed for quite a while, but disappeared without a trace in the few seconds it took me to pick up a water bottle. What, or who, was that magnificent horse? Thats a mystery. However, I knew my silent prayer was effective. I hadnt spoken a single word out loud, yet I was sure after that encounter that God had indeed heard and responded to my prayers simply through an exchange of thoughts.
Did The Tribulation/70th Week Of Daniel Start With The Abraham Accord Signings
Ray Bentley and Robert Murray believe the Tribulation, the seventh week of Daniel, has started with the Abraham accord signing. What are your thoughts?
Ray Bentleys a friend of mine he pastors a church just 15 minutes from my house, called Maranatha Chapel. not too far. Were good friends. I dont know Robert Murray, but I have heard of him. I havent heard pastor Ray say this, so I dont know if he is teaching that we are in the seventh week of Daniel, and that we have started the tribulation with the Abraham accords signings.
But Ill give you my thoughts. Again, I dont know that Ray is teaching that he hasnt said that to me specifically. But there are some questions I would have if that is true.
First question: Does that mean that there is no pre-tribulation rapture? Thats something you would have to ask someone who would hold to that view. There are some solid, good Christians who dont believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. My question is about that: if were already in the tribulation, then theres no pre-tribulation rapture.
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Rest In The Truth That You Are Accepted In Jesus Christ
Ill pray for the Lord to protect my mind, help me recognize the enemy, and work to keep my mind focused on God. Sometimes I will be successful, and sometimes I will not be. Over time, it will be more often the former.
There are days when all I can do is rest in the truth that I am at peace with God, that I am free from accusation, and that I am Gods child.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are at peace with God. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ .
In Christ, we are free from accusation. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus .
In Christ, we are children of God and heirs along with Jesus. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirsheirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ .
My identity in Jesus Christ is the central fact that influences my present circumstances and determines my eternal future, and it is available by faith alone. Dont doubt dont wonder dont question it.
Accept Gods gracious gift, and rest in it.
Can The Devil Read Our Minds
Ask a Question!NewsletterQuestion:
Answer: Unlike Satan the devil, the Bible clearly informs us that Jesus Christ could read the minds of others. In the book of Matthew he directly states he has this power when he says, “But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?'” .
The word of God reads and judges our thoughts and attitudes. Everything we think can be clearly seen by him. In the book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul states that God’s spirit can find out all of the thoughts and desires in our hearts. Absolutely nothing is hidden from the Great God that he desires to know! This is the exact opposite of the devil whose power is greatly limited by his Creator.
Our great adversary has not be given the power to read our minds. He does know, however, as a constant observer of humanity since Adam and Eve, what generally motivates us. He knows how humans think in general because he thinks the same way and is motivated by the same lusts! He knows the weaknesses of human beings and therefore knows how to tempt us.
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Does God Know Our Thoughts
There is no question that God knows our thoughts. He knows what we are thinking even before we think it . We can try to hide our thoughts from Him, but its impossible. He sees and hears everything .Some people may wonder how a loving God could possibly know our every thought. They may think that He must be omniscient in order to know everything about us, but that would mean He is also aware of all the evil thoughts we have. And if He knows about them, then why doesnt He do something about them?The answer lies in understanding the nature of Gods love. His love is not like oursit is perfect and unconditional. It does not change based on our actions or thoughts. We may experience His love differently at different times in our lives, but His love for us never fails .Gods knowledge of our thoughts does not mean that He approves of everything we think. In fact, there are many things we think that grieve Him . But because He loves us, He uses even our negative thoughts as an opportunity to draw us closer to Him and help us grow in holiness .
Can Satan Read My Mind
Can Satan Read My Mind?
Satan cannot perfectly read your mind, but no single passage in Scripture states this definitively. We infer that Satan cannot read our minds for a number of reasons. First, Satan is a created being, originally a powerful angel . Though he aspired to be like God , he is not Gods 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 .
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 . 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 .
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 could not read the kings mind. Only God is the true revealer of such mysteries . Certainly, if Satan had been able to read the kings mind, he would have been able to keep Daniel from advancing in the kings service.
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Are Prayers More Powerful When They Are Spoken Out Loud
Your prayers are all powerful. You dont have to worry that praying silently in your head will diminish the impact of your prayers. In fact, sometimes silent prayers help quiet your mind and tune into Gods powerful presence with you. Ive experienced many awe-inspiring moments sensing Gods presence with me during silent prayer. My book Wake Up to Wonder describes one time when I took a break from a stressful workday to pray silently in a local churchs sanctuary that is always open for prayer. The stillness in the church seemed to be embracing me with a sense of peace, which left no room for stress to linger. No other person was there with me, but Gods Spirit was there. As I prayed in my head, the words of Psalm 46:10 came to mind: Be still, and know that I am God.
How Does God Hear The Prayers In Your Head
God knows your thoughts, and because of that knowledge, God hears all the prayers in your head.
Even before you speak a word, God knows it completely, since God perceives your thoughts wherever you are. Psalm 139:1-4 reveals: O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. As God judges thoughts and attitudes both bad and good he responds to them. The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight .
So, can you pray in your head? The answer to this is: God hears your prayers on all occasions, whether youre praying out loud or praying silently in your mind. You can be confident that God will hear the prayers in your head as he listens to your inner thoughts.
Not only does God hear and respond to prayers in your head, but he also helps you express them whenever you need assistance putting your prayers into words. Romans 8:26 says, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
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Can The Devil Read Our Minds And Judge Our Thoughts
Only God is all-knowing with the power to read our thoughts. The Devil is limited and only a created being. As a result, he does not have the power to read our internal thoughts.
However, The Devil does have the ability to see what we are doing and our actions, so he knows what many of our sins are by observing and can tempt us knowing our weaknesses. We should also be aware that we can always call upon the Lord at any moment and He is far more powerful.
- God knows that the Devil is thinking, but the Devil does not know what God is thinking, so God is always far superior in knowledge and assistance to us, over evil.
