How the devil speaks thoughts into your mind

February 8, 2009 · Filed Under renewing our mind, spiritual hearing · 3 Comments 

As I grow older (and hopefully wiser), I am becoming more attune to the schemes and tactics of the devil and his angels.

Most people believe that the devil has great power to inflict harm and physical danger into peoples lives, that he’s extremely powerful and should be feared. But, I don’t believe that. I don’t believe satan and his angels are to be feared–maybe recognized, revealed and better discerned, but not feared.

Satan once had great power and authority over all the earth. Adam surrendered his God-oradined authority and power to satan back in the Garden of Eden. It was lost for years, but then Jesus came to earth, died on the cross and restored our position of authority and released great power into our lives. Out first Adam lost it all, but our second Adam got it back for us (1 Corinthians 15:47).

To those who live their lives surrendered to Christ, you have great power and authority over the devil. Incredible power and authority! But, that doesn’t change the fact that devil will try to convince you otherwise. He will yell and scream (1 Peter 5:8) and lie to you (John 8:44) and find subtle ways to steal, kill and destroy you (John 10:10). His greatest weapon against humanity is the ability to speak into our thought life. He’s referred to as the Accuser (Revelation 12:10). He spews lies and accusations constantly into our thoughts and minds.

His primary strategy is simply this–to get you to agree with his accusations and lies. Maybe they are lies about God, our Father. Maybe they are lies about yourself, maybe how God sees you and loves you. Maybe they are lies about your spouse, your family, your friends–whatever. The devil will constantly, relentlessly, viciously spew accusations into your thoughts to get you to agree with him, because that’s where his greatest power lies–the power of agreement.

If he can get you to agree with him, then he’s got you. This was his key tactic against Jesus when he was being tempted in the wilderness. The Bible says that the devil came to him in the wilderness and tempted Jesus. I don’t believe there was any physical snake or apparition or evil voice. I believe Jesus had these thoughts, “If I’m really the son of God, I can turn these stones into bread.” It was a thought in his mind that the devil spoke. He was trying to get Jesus to agree with him. But, Jesus overcame the enemy by quoting scripture, by speaking a God thought, and rejecting a “me thought”.

It is absolutely imperative that we learn to police our thoughts, take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And, we must change the way we think and perceive things (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23).

The other day, my wife and I got into an argument about something, and as we went to bed, my mind was spinning with thoughts. She doesn’t understand me. I thought we were happy. Maybe I just need to move out for awhile.

In the moment, it was feeding my anger and frustration. It was hard to take those thoughts captive because they were so prevalent in my mind. But I realized where they were coming from. They were not my thoughts. She does understand me, more than anyone on this earth. I love my wife. I have a great future ahead with her. It’s obvious now that the enemy was lying to me, speaking confusion and deception. He was trying to get me to agree with him. And, if I had, it would have taken me one step closer to marital problems.

When it comes to physical sickness, I’ve heard it said that more than 80% of the documented illnesses don’t have a known physical cause, implying that the majority of sicknesses start in our mind and thoughts. I believe if the enemy can get you to agree with him about some physical sickness or symptom you’re experiencing, then you will let your mental, emotional and spiritual guard down. And WAM, you’re sick.

Learn to fight the good fight of faith (believing). Learn to police your thoughts and not just accept what comes into your mind. Guard your mind. As it says in Proverbs, “Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life!” (Proverbs 4:23)

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Prince of the Air

September 8, 2008 · Filed Under spiritual hearing · 2 Comments 

This past weekend, my wife and I were driving back from a baby shower of a friend. It was a nice peaceful drive. We were talking about our pastor’s message this weekend. He was preaching about how God has chosen to limit himself to our faith, to what we believe. It was an excellent message and right on.

As we were driving, I made this blanket statement, directed mostly towards my own attitude and unbelief. I said, “I wonder sometimes if we don’t see answers to our prayers because we don’t really believe God.” My wife got quiet all of sudden—something was stirring. I realized later that it wasn’t a good stirring.

When we got home, she was very upset with me. I asked her why. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong. (That’s pretty normal for me.) When I made that statement about our prayers not being answered because we don’t believe, here’s what she heard me say, “Angela, it’s all your fault. You don’t really believe when you pray. You’re the reason God doesn’t answer our prayers.”

Whoa! Where did that come from? That’s not what I said. Nor was that what I intended. I was speaking totally about myself. Yet, what she heard was a condemning accusation about her faith.

Immediately, I knew exactly where that came from. Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan “the mighty prince of the power of the air.” He has this “gift” to mix up the words we say so that the hearer receives them completely different than what we speak. He can manipulate thoughts and ideas so that when the words come into our minds, we misinterpret them and immediately become offended. It’s an incredibly effective strategy, especially when people are completely unaware of it.

Thankfully, my wife is the kind of person who likes to talk things out (sometimes in gory detail). So, we talked about my comment and my intentions, and she quickly realized that I was not accusing her nor pointing my finger at her faith. It was more about me and my walk with God. Not hers.

Think about your own life. How many times have you said something only for it to be completely interpreted wrong? Or, how about those times when you sense something is wrong with your spouse, and she comes in crying, “You said this and you said that.” And you can’t recall every saying that. The prince of the air is at work.

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