Satan’s greatest weapon of all is lying. Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44b) The idea that Satan has power to read your mind and know your thoughts is just another one of his crafty lies. He uses this lie to create fear in believers and to make himself out to be more powerful than he truly is. He is like a cat standing in front of a light creating a shadow of a lion. Satan does not have access to read your mind; he can only put thoughts into your mind to try and deceive you. We overcome these lies by exposing them to the truth.
Satan has limited knowledge. Satan cannot know your thoughts and mind because he is not all knowing (omniscient). He wants to make you believe he is always present (omnipresent) as well, but he is not. These attributes belong only to God. Nowhere in the Bible does Satan demonstrate the power to read people’s minds and know their thoughts. (If you find a place where he does that, please contact me to share it.) Satan only knows what he can see and hear from our words and our actions. Therefore, we are to live circumspect lives. (1 Peter 5:8)
Satan has lost all authority. One of Satan's greatest lies concerns his power. He wants to make himself out to be all powerful (omnipotent), like God. The truth is that his power is limited. “Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'” (Matthew 28:18) If Jesus has all authority, how much authority does Satan have? That’s right, he has none! Since Satan has no authority in our lives; the power that he does have has no rights over us. His weapons are unlicensed. For this reason, James gives us a simple instruction in turning Satan away. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
Satan seeks to influence your thinking. Since Satan's power is limited and his authority is nullified, he tries to use his lies to persuade us and influence our thinking and behavior. “The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’" (Matthew 4:3) The good news is that God always gives us a way to escape the temptations of the enemy and the power to choose what is right. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God’s power within us is greater than Satan’s lies. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) God has given us his Holy Spirit to live within us. His Spirit provides us with power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) We can now know the mind of God in every circumstance because of God's indwelling presence. (1 Corinthians 2:16) Every thought that comes into our mind, we can subject to God's light. If it is the truth God will grant us peace. (Colossians 3:15) If it is a lie, He will expose and eliminate it. "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Friend, you should never fear Satan or his minions. Instead, we are to fear and reverence God. (Matthew 10:28) If we walk in submission to the Lord, Satan can never have a stronghold in our lives. Don’t believe his lies. Saturate your mind by the truth and promises of God’s Word. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Want to apply this message in a practical way? Pray this simple prayer of faith:
“Father God, I submit to you and I resist Satan and all demons. According to your Word, they must flee. I take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I put on the helmet of salvation to protect my mind. I put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect my heart. I take up the shield of faith to extinguish every lie that comes my way. I put the belt of God’s truth around my waist so I am grounded and centered in the truth of God. Every thought that comes into my mind I take captive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I take the Sword of the Spirit which is your Word and I aggressively move forward in faith obeying your Word which is your will. I shod my feet with the gospel of peace and follow your marching orders to carry your good news to every person that comes my way. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may pray at all times and live in harmony with you, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
