There are occasions when a person can predict what someone is going to say;
There are times when due to visual or audible prompts, the same thought is in two or more minds;
And there are occasions when a thought is intentionally planted in a mind by someone else.
But can anyone, or any being, actually know what is thought in another persons mind? To the extent of knowing the basis of, and the developing reasoning of, through to the final conclusion of, the thoughts of another person. Thoughts can be composed of complex components, including experiences, emotions, desires, interactions with the five senses, and rational, or at times seemingly irrational processes of reasoning, which all come together in moments, to produce an outcome in speech, and/or action, or an unspoken conviction. So who knows these depths of a person’s thoughts?
Just going back a few steps to the matter of general observations and rational deduction; Given that within our short lives, we’ve had occasional experiences of perceiving others thoughts, I think it’s reasonable to conclude that since the devils’ been observing and influencing humans since the garden of Eden, it’s to be expected that he and the demons have also employed their basic observational senses, to determine what’s going on in your mind.
Limited abilities:
In regard to the question of the abilities of the evil one’s reading someone’s mind by our actions and our responses and then acting on these observations, their abilities are limited to the allowance of God’s permission and empowerment; The book of Job includes example of this aspect of God’s restraint on them, in chapter 1:6-11:
Now it was the day that the sons of God came to stand before Yahweh, and Satan also came among them.
Job 1:6-11
And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon My servant Job?
For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without cause?
“Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side?
You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
But send forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”
Then Yahweh said to Satan,
“Behold, all that he has is in your hand, only do not send forth your hand toward him.”
So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.
Influence doesn’t mean knowledge:
The Bible says clearly that the evil one’s don’t have knowledge of any of our unspoken thoughts. Although it’s Biblically taught that they can introduce thoughts into men’s minds, and these introduced thoughts can result in words and actions, when the mind is on the things of men rather than on the things of God. There’s an example of this with Peter, when he expressed that Jesus should prioritise earthly relationships and Himself; so, when Peter spoke the words given him by Satan, it was clear to Satan that he had been successful in influencing Peter to discourage Christ from going to His death, with the intent that He could spend more time with the disciples and possible go on to live a long earthly life, but Jesus responded appropriately, He wasn’t blinded by the flesh or the cunning ways of Satan:
And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
Mat 16:22-23
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You’re a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Jesus said:
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
Matthew 10:37-39
and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
When Peter spoke those words to Jesus, and Jesus rebuked him, Jesus revealed the source of the words. Then in Matthew 10, Jesus also taught that interpersonal relationships are to be second in priority, because prioritising anyone, or anything above God, is idolatry, this’s what the evil one’s want to encourage; to reduce God in everyone’s thoughts, even subject to what is perceived as being naturally justifiable reason: that is, Prioritising family and friends.
Their goal:
The evil one’s want to confuse and destroy God’s order in any way they can, because their days on earth are numbered. But when our earthly relationships are rightly held according to God’s order, with Him as the supreme priority, we have stability of mind through faith in His working in the lives of those we care for, and interact with, rather than experiencing extended times of emotional instability, through being emotionally “naturally” dependant on, or influenced emotionally negatively by earthly relationships.
If Peter had his thoughts on the things of God at that moment, these thoughts would have been Peter’s priority and guide, so Satan wouldn’t have been able to influence Peter to apply emotional earthly reasoning, and speak via his mouth to appeal to Jesus to disobey His heavenly Father.
Proofs:
Whether the words delivered by the evil one’s are audible or inaudible, they’re not a matter of proof of the evil one’s knowing the recipients mind, they’re only a matter of the evil one’s delivering content to a persons mind. Then the result of their content being in the mind of the recipient, is subject to the person’s decision and discernment of these introduced words. If the words are discerned to be contrary to God’s will, even though they might not have been recognised as having come from the evil one’s, then just as the person’s own fleshly thoughts are to be rejected, so also are these introduced thoughts. We’re told in 1 Peter 1:13 to gird up the thoughts of our mind, this means to govern your mind by God’s word, consider whether all thoughts are consistent with God’s will or not, so that you’re prepared for service to God at all times. Holy Spirit who dwels in the believer, assists in this discernment, by bringing God’s word to mind, and by directing the believer in the selfless way of Christ Jesus.
More limits for created beings:
As far as I’ve found in the Word, evil ones aren’t omnipresent, and they’re certainly not even infinitesimally remotely equal to God, or anything like Him; although from man’s mortal point of view, they have abilities in some areas far beyond human ability, essentially, they’re still created beings, only able to be in one place at any particular time. But it appears likely that the devil may be able to move at incredible speed, like lightning, just as the cherubim do, as mentioned in Ezekiel 1:14 (ref. Ezekiel 10:15) “And the living creatures ran to and fro with the appearance of lightning.”
The old saying: “bad news travels fast”, is true in much of earthly creation, as well as of the spiritual beings present on earth. When a volcano erupts, the sound spreads far and wide, and similarly, but with greater distribution, social media in the hands of so many, spreads info. and images of all kinds almost instantly around the globe. But bad news has been spreading fast since thousands of years before electronic technology developed, and I’m not referring to the means of smoke signals, shofar horn or conch shells. We’re shown in Ecclesiastes 10:20, that evil beings can share information with each other about what they see and hear, around the globe:
Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the sky will bring the sound and the winged creature will tell the matter.“
But infinitely above the evil one’s abilities to do evil, is God’s unlimited ability to do good.
Luke 4:6 tells of some of the devils limited areas of authority:
And the devil said to Him,
“All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish…
Satan works with what he hears and sees, and he’s only a created being, but as a spirit, he’s able to express influence without being seen. Influencing both Christians and non-Christians; and the walls of the buildings where Christians assemble to praise God, are no barrier to an evil spirit, neither is the wayward mind of a Christian.
So as the evil one’s observe and share among themselves, what they see and hear of peoples actions and words, so they scheme to unsettle the saints by planting thoughts to make them unprofitable for God. This is just my own perception of the means: It seems likely that they do this as spiritual beings communicating with our spirit; the reality of spiritual communication is general known through the daily interaction between Christians and God in prayer, and Him soaking through our conscience, we’re told in 1 Corinthians 2:13-13
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God, of which depths we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual depths with spiritual words.
But the greatest reason governing our actions and words, should be our reverent fear and love of God; we should act and speak in faith for all to see, including the evil one’s, their goal is inclusive of causing the saints to individually dishonour God, through causing us to express a lack of faith and reverence toward Him, just as Satan attempted to do through Job.
But no one can separate the children of God from Him, even the evil one’s who want to make the children of God unfruitful. They watch what you read and do, and if they see you giving room for the flesh, they’ll make more tempting opportunities available for you. They’re able to influence the children of the devil to post fleshly content of all types on social media, whether its the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life, so that the children of God will get caught in the same traps as the world. And it could be any type of thing that’s an obstacle to you. Things that are not good, honourable, just of pure. But Holy Spirit constantly works to caution, correct and keep the Saint’s, in our responsibility to hear and obey.
But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
James 1:22
I wonder whether the evil one’s used opportunity with King David and Bathsheba, prompting her to tempt him, and prompting David to wander with his feet and eyes, while he had some spare time, when he should have been going into battle with the people of Israel, or keeping his eyes averted from what his flesh desired. It takes two to tango, but sometimes there’s a third or fourth one involved. Still though, keep in mind, God always makes a way out of the temptation, so the core problem isn’t the external influence, it’s each individual persons own lust: We’re told in James 1:14
each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death.
The death spoken of in this verse, is primarily reduced fellowship with God. God doesn’t want this, so He disciplines those He loves. Pruning us like a tree, so that we bare more fruit.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
We don’t need any assistance to sin, sin occurs when we stop denying ourselves. But we’re in a period of time where the evil one’s are present and occupied with their primary goal of attempting to corrupt mankind.
So it’s important to show our faith and love of God openly to them at all times. God strengthens His children, and hedges them to certain degrees according to His will, for His glory and our good, but He’s also given us ability to make straight paths for our feet and He’s made the power of Jesus’s name available for us to speak, so that evil ones can’t stay near us when we speak His name. We have no power of ourselves to command the evil one’s to leave, but there’s power in Jesus name.
Thoughts can be known by association, so live your faith:
When people come into your home what do they see? Evidence of your faith, or evidence of the worlds ways?
It’s commonly said “what you are, speaks so loud I can’t hear what your saying.”. So our words can be far from our actions. And the evil one’s see this too.
It’s one thing to be aware of the ways of the evil one’s, and to respond and act according to this knowledge, but faith keeps the saints from being fearful of them, and occupied with thought of their influence; a dear brother once told me “you don’t need to chase the darkness out of the room, just turn the light on”.
Fill your mind and house with Christ, this can be as easy as having an open bible in a prominent place in your home, and/or having a verse or more on the wall, keep God’s Word and your prayers as the first priority every morning, and the last priority every evening.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as phylacteries between your eyes.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
We’re told in Romans 16:
For the report of your obedience has reached to all. Therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
Romans 16:19 LSB
So although its wise to be aware of the ways of the evil one’s, our main focus shouldn’t be on what the evil one’s activities are, but rather on Christ, walking quietly in obedience to God. What’s most important to know, is that God knows every thought and every action, of every person, every moment of every day. So our thoughts should be according to our words; when we say we trust Him, our thoughts and actions should confirm our prayers and words.
Otherwise, He knows we’re lying to Him, and He’ll discipline us to bring this dishonesty to our attention. But even in this, His great love for His children is also in His discipline, so that we’ll be restored and maintained in fellowship with Him.
If we’re faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2 Timothy 2:13
When God is our hope and strength in truth, He’s pleased with our thoughts, and makes us fit to serve His purpose, for His glory and our good.
There’s no doubt at all, that God is the only one who knows every thought of man, and through His full knowledge of us, He works to bring out the best and prunes the rest, to make His children more like Christ.
Consider the following verses:
- Genesis 6:5
Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. - 1 Kings 8:38-39 whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each of whom knows the affliction of his own heart, and spreads his hands toward this house; then listen in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and give to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men,
- 1 Chronicles 28:9
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a delighted soul; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. - Psalm 94:11
Yahweh knows the thoughts of man, That they are vanity. - Psalm 139:1-2
O Yahweh, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. - Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way. - Matthew 9:3-4
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemes.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? - Luke 6:7-8 And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He heals on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. But He knew what they were thinking,…
- Luke 8:17
For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. - Acts 1:24
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen.” - In Acts 5, God made known to Peter what was in the mind of both Ananias and his wife:
- But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge. And bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why is it that you laid this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:20 …“THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”
- 1 John 3:19-20 And by this we will know that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
Because God knows the absolute depths of our thoughts, some of which can be fashioned from our infancy, through both good, very sad, and the sinful experiences:
- He is fully able to cause us to have peace.
- He is fully able to give us hope.
- He is fully able to work in us to help us to serve Him.
- And most importantly, and at the root of all the above, He is able to fully forgive us for all that we’ve done, because He knows the depths of what we’ve done, more than even we do.
And Jesus knew these depths of our experiences, including our sin, before he went to the cross to redeem the Saint’s to the Father.
So we praise God that through Jesus blood: “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.“, and “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
A.P.O 11-Oct-2026
