Phil asks an excellent question over at Thinklings:

Can The Devil Read Minds?

…or insert thoughts into your brain?

Any Scriptural suggestions are much appreciated…

Good question, and there are already some good answers in the comments thread.

This brings me to another long-standing conviction I’ve had about how we often talk about our enemy: Have you ever heard someone say the following (or something like it)?

“Satan has really been attacking me lately.”

I fully believe that fallen angels, what we call demons, are active in our world and are actively opposing God’s Kingdom. And I believe their chief is a demon we call Satan.

However, I do not believe Satan, as a created being, is omnipresent (everywhere at once). Or omniscient (all-knowing). Those are traits that only God possesses.

“The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” – Job 1:7 (ESV)

See. Not everywhere at once.

So I think we give the enemy way more credit than he deserves when we say “Satan has really been attacking me/tempting me/troubling me/etc., lately”.

I don’t think Satan knows who I am, most likely. He’s way too busy and way not like God to have knowledge of every Christian on earth. He has bigger fish to fry.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that some lesser demonic beings might from time to time cause me grief. I don’t know – my own flesh is the source of most of my failings, I believe.

Demonic influence is real. But don’t give God’s enemy too much credit. He’s not like God, at all, and doesn’t have near the power.

” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (ESV)

I can’t think of anyone who writes about grace better than Jared these days.

The following is from an excellent post he wrote a few days ago: The Scandal of Grace:

Isn’t that completely illogical? What weirdos this following Jesus thing makes us. C.S. Lewis was once asked what the main difference between Christianity and all other religions was, and he answered, “Oh, that’s easy — grace.”

Grace isn’t just amazing; it’s ridiculous. It’s revolutionary to our thoughts and feelings. It humbles the powerful and empowers the humble.

Jesus didn’t die so you could learn how to be a better person. He died because you can’t be. (That’s grace offending your sensibilities right now.)

The grace of Jesus is a foolishness that, when believed, brings power to save (1 Cor. 1:18).

Grace is that bizarre missing ingredient that mucks up all human foibles, flaws, and fears. Grace is the thing that turns lives upside down. It is a sweet, beautiful irritant.

Grace is scandalous. It makes murderers into apostles, it makes victims into forgivers. It takes “never the twain shall meet” and makes “reunited and it feels so good.” 😉

Have you been scandalized by grace lately? Has Jesus shocked you through someone’s granting grace to you?

When was the last time you offended someone’s expectations by extending grace to them?

That last question is a very good one.

If you haven’t blogrolled GospelDrivenLife yet, what are you waiting for?

I think I could learn a lot from this guy. This post is absolutely beautiful.

What I saw in Bob was evangelism by actions as well as words. He treated these men, with their calloused hands, lice filled hair, and beer-stinking clothes with dignity and respect. They had names. They even had families. They had senses of humor. I watched them respond to Bob and learned to do the same. Bob went to be with Jesus last year but I owe him a great debt.

Finally, I began to meet international students at Portland State University. There were dozens of them, mostly from West Africa and the Middle East. They were very open to talk about religion too. What an education — to learn to explain the Gospel to people from a different culture and to learn from them as well.

I was beginning to see the Holy Spirit tear down my prejudice and pride toward unbelievers. I was beginning to like these people –to enjoy their quirks, to tease them, to learn from them. They were people who responded well when they were loved sincerely and loyally and treated with respect. I was also seeing that the word “lost” was more than theological. There were indications of being alienated from God in their lives — in their experience of themselves. It was darkness.

My experience in learning to seek the lost would become a powerful shaping instrument in my life.

I’ve got a long, long way to go.