I found this helpful.

Can satan/demons read our minds?
Answer by Randy Alcorn
(All names and identifying information have been changed to protect the
individual)


I have read many of your books and they have truly blessed me. One concept I
have read has bothered me as I have been unable to validate it in scripture.
That is the concept that satan cannot know our thoughts and heart in
contrast to God who knows all. Further that satan can hear our spoken
prayers but not our silent prayers...

I cannot find anything like this in scripture and had some thoughts on the
subject, namely,

1. Since God has infinite power, authority and capability, he could have
created satan, Michael, cherubs and other heavenly hosts to have any
abilities he wanted them to have. It doesn't seem we are told much about
this. Seems like he could have created satan to have the ability to read our
minds and hearts if he had so desired.

2. Since the ability to prevent satan from knowing our thoughts is such a
strategic advantage for a Christian, seems like it would have been
specifically identified for us, it would rank way up there in the "armor of
God" or would have been taught by Jesus.

3. Seems like in order to manipulate us the way he does, satan would have to
have an "inside track" on our thinking, (i.e. read our minds) to know what
tricks to throw at us, to know our weaknesses, etc.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this if you have time.
Yours in Christ,


On the demon mind-reading issue, here's my opinion. First, we know demons
aren't omniscient, since they're just angels, created finite beings, and
angels don't know a lot of things, including the time of Christ's return
(Mark 13:32). We're told that God alone can know the future (Is. 46:9-10).
Demons are personal beings who are self-contained and are limited in space
and time, not omnipresent and therefore presumably not able to drift in and
out of people at will. On the other hand 2 Cor. 10 and other passages
suggest demons can influence our thinking. But can they read our thoughts?
Well, we know Jesus knew people's thoughts (Mt. 9:4; 12:25; Mark 2:8; Luke
6:8; 11:17). God knows people's thoughts (Gen. 6:5, Ps. 139, etc.). But
nowhere are we told Satan or demons know people's thoughts.

That would just be a deduction, an argument from silence, except that in
Daniel 2:27-28 Daniel says to Nebuchadnnezzar that no one speaking by any
power but God could tell the king what he dreamed--that included
"enchanters, magicians and astrologers" who could appeal to demonic sources.
But apparently these demons could not read the king's mind even to ascertain
what he had dreamed, much less interpret it. So this is probably the primary
Scripture that has direct bearing on the issue.

Of course, demons are in an excellent position to deduce what's on our minds
since they can see us from the outside. They know exactly what we're
reading, watching on T.V., they overhear our conversations, see our physical
responses, hear even our "private" words, and are no doubt skilled at
reading our expressions. They see us when other people can't, any time they
wish. Now as far as putting thoughts in our mind or exercising powers of
persuasion, I don't know how that works--perhaps there is a form of
telepathy whereby they send a message, plant an idea, without being able to
read exactly what we're thinking. I agree there's demonic activity involved
in distracting us during prayer, but I think they don't have to be able to
read our minds to do this. If we've had an argument with our spouse, if our
child is sick, if we're tired and under deadline, he can observe all that
and somehow whisper his distractions. (The world and the flesh also provide
their own distractions, even apart from the devil--and the flesh definitely
does know what we're thinking.) By hearing us and seeing what we're taking
into our minds, demons have a good idea the best things to pick up on in
tempting us. That's a critical reminder for us and our children that what we
read and watch and look at and listen to provides either the Holy Spirit and
righteous angels, on the one hand, or demons on the other hand, ammo in
their efforts to wage war in our minds. If I have an enemy attacking me, it
doesn't make much sense to hand him a loaded shotgun.

I do think a clear understanding of exactly what we're thinking is limited
to the omniscient God who created us, died for us and indwells us. He is the
Judge, the only one who knows all, sees all. I find that comforting. It also
let's me breathe a bit of a sigh of relief to know that the enemy of my soul
doesn't have unlimited access to my mind. He can bang on the door and yell
in the window and shout his accusations, but he can't invade the premises of
my mind (which is connected with my brain, part of my body that's God's
temple) because the Holy Spirit is in residence. But of course, we must be
on the alert to wage war that demolishes Satan's arguments, and we must not
be unaware of his strategies. We don't want to overestimate the power of
demons in our lives, but neither do we want to underestimate it.

>
>
> I purposed a question not long ago due to my participation at a
roundtable.
> I will be doing another roundtable next week.  The question is "Can satan
> read your mind?"  Is he allowed to know our thoughts before they are
spoken?
> I will need scriptures to back your thoughts please.
>
> Thanks and God Bless,
>
> Bro. Terry
>
>
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