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Does the Devil have the ability/authority to read our minds and plant evil thoughts.

I was asked an interesting question yesterday, can the devil get inside your brain and plant an evil thought. I know that we have free will and that we allow ourselves to make bad choices but the question is: ‘Does the Devil have the ability/authority to read our minds and plant evil thoughts.’ The question was posed by another Sunday school teacher so any scriptural help would be appreciated.

I don’t believe so. At one time Satan certainly had such power even to the point of having demons possess individuals against their own free will. Today, however, Satan has been bound by Christ and no longer exercises the same kind of power he once had. Hebrews 2:14 states, “Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil….” Through Christ’s death he bound the power of the Devil. Consider also Revelation 20:2 which says, “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years….” Satan’s direct power over the mind of man has been removed.

That doesn’t mean, however, that Satan has no influence on men today. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour….” We are to resist him and his evil influences on our lives.

Today, we are tempted by means of our own lusts, according to James 1:13-15. This arises from within ourselves. Satan certainly can place things in our path that he knows will tempt us, but those temptations come from desires and thoughts that we originate. Jesus said that it was out of the heart that evil comes in our life (Matthew 15:18-20). This is where we need to focus our efforts, not upon worrying whether or not Satan can directly put evil thoughts into our mind.