Swedish: The Devil and his Hanging, oil painting by Erland Cullberg. Gothenburg University Library
One morning, getting ready for work, I thought about how good I was feeling lately about signing up for a 15K and before I could blink, a voice in my head said, You will never be able to run as fast as you want. Why do you keep trying?
Instead of letting that idea slip into my consciousness, I caught the tail end of it. I held onto it, trying to bring it into focus so that I could see it, and see where it had come from. Oh my gosh, I said to myself. That thought must have come from Satan.
If you pray and wait for God to speak to you, or through you, you’re opening yourself up to receive God’s word. When you open yourself, it’s hard to keep the channels focused on only receiving God’s messages. You’re going to receive other messages.
Have you ever looked in the mirror, liked what you saw, and then you find something to criticize? Have you ever found yourself shouting at other drivers or pedestrians from the safety of your car? Have you ever looked at what a friend has and thought, how does she deserve that? Why don’t I have that? Are those thoughts coming from the Spirit within you? I don’t think so.
As I pondered Satan’s power, this idea struck me: If I’m having a hard time identifying the subtleties of the devil at work in me, how can I help my girls to identify it? How do I even begin to talk to them about it? The next day, I asked Jaiya about the devil in the car on the way home from school.
Me: Jaiya, do you ever remember talking about the devil?
J: …long pause… No, not that I can remember.
Me: Not just this year in youth group, but anytime in the past in Godly Play?
J: No, I can’t remember a time we talked about Satan specifically.
Me: Is there a Bible story that you can remember with the devil in it?
J: Hmm… vaguely… you mean like the story of Adam and Eve?
We went on to talk about feelings of envy and jealousy that she had felt earlier that day. She was amazed to think about her feelings in the context of the devil; I could see it on her face and hear it in her voice. I suspect the conversation isn’t over yet.
We need to talk honestl about Satan with our children, and ourselves. Scripture offers an entrée into a conversation about Satan, and Lent offers a space for us to explore the concept of temptation and other negative behaviors. Reading and discussing Genesis, Job, or 2 Corinthians could generate lots of good conversation with a variety of ages. Perhaps during Lent, your family might study Matthew 4.
God works in us and through us, just as God works in and through others in our lives and in our world. We have to acknowledge that the devil does the same thing. Our children need our help to understand that part of our nature includes the ability to do the wrong thing and go against the life God wants for us.
The good news about sin is that we can confess and ask God to forgive us in the name of Jesus. As we move through Lent, let’s not be afraid to have challenging conversations about Satan and sin. Jesus is always waiting for us at the end.
Have you talked about Satan with children or teens? How do you see the devil at work in your life?
I have been thinking about the devil and all that has been happening in the world, A long time ago I heard that God had given him a certain amount of time to do his havoc. Thinking about this, maybe his time is coming to an end, and he has been increasing his endeavors for control,
Still I also see more compassion, and kindness, springing forth. I believe that is Gods work. Pray without ceasing for our enemies.
Hi I think is a great site kudos to you! I talk to my son about God a lot and how he wants us to live our life. He told me couple of weeks ago that the devil told him to go see a very evil movie. He had seen the trailer while on the internet. I monitor what he watches but it was a trailer. I told him I was glad he told me. I told him that it is a good thing he recognized it was not God because some grown ups can’t tell the difference. What are your thoughts?
I had some thing similar happen to me : one day I had a sudden interest to learn about the movie IT when I watched the trailer I was tormented and afraid. My father cast 2 demons out of me and 1 year later the dreams started flowing back I didn’t know it but my mum and dad said I was screaming and yelling in my sleep. Dad asked a priest and he said I had demons in my toys. I then threw them all out. Ever since I have had anxiety and depression! And the memories are flowing back I now have insomnia and I’m only 12. Two weeks ago I had a priest visit me he said I have dealt with the devil himself cause I asked for telekinesis and now I have horrible pains as in something inside me is trying to get out! I advise you to not let your kids get too deep otherwise there in too far and it will be nearly impossible to get them out. (I also have 6 voices in my head screaming at me!
I have to wonder myself if the devil has been defeated then how does he speak to me? Where does it say in the Bible that the devil speaks to me? I realize that he spoke to Jesus during the The Temptations. But when Jesus died on the cross the enemy the devil was defeated. So if he is defeated how does he speak to me.? What scripture says that this happens. Personally for myself I haven’t found one. I will not give the enemy credit for anything why would I do that if he is defeated. Most of the problems that I face or the thoughts that I have that are not of God or from my own past. These thoughts I have learned from other people or other pastors that I’m being attacked by the enemy. They’re my own thoughts if I have a car wreck that doesn’t mean the enemy attacked me it’s just life. So I end this comment with this. I will not give the enemy credit for anything. He has been defeated he is not omnipresent he is not omnipotent.
As I am trying to write this comment the voices of Satan are trying to overcome me and tell me what to write. I have terrible voices that speak to me and say horrible things to me all the time. What do I do? Somebody who knows please help.
Daryl, you are not alone. God and your entire Heavenly family stand unwavering behind you. Google the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel and say the Our Father/Lord’s Prayer when these chumps attack. This will help but you need to get back to Christian Sanctuary regularly as well and follow up with a Priest or Pastor on this. God’s got big plans for you; it’s when those come close to fruition that the enemy attacks. I’ll pray for you and this will be ok. Take care…
Thank you very much.
I want you to know that the main reason the Devil puts so much energy into manipulating and trying to control your life. Is because you are intelligent and you are a threat to the Devil. God placed a Judgement on the Devil and the Devil knows that sooner or later. We will try to carry that judgement out for God. The last thing the Devil wants is for the smart people to go against him. So he tries to create a thousand problems for them to deal with. That way they won’t have time to work on defeating him. Hence the meek will inherit the earth. So you just stay focused on the downfall of the Devil. God can see you trying to Carry out his Judgement and you will receive help with that mission for God. So this means that you are so awesome that the Devil feels threatened and he doesn’t want you to know that.
Thank you very much for your reply. I like the way you view things. May God bless you.
I’m always hearing a thought in my head I don’t know where it is coming from and I really want to know I believe in god and everything but I go on these sites to help myself see other people’s experiences but I wanna know how do I get rid of the bad thoughts that always put me down?
I have been tormented by satan for several years and I have been good at trying to keep my own thoughts and praying and rebuking but it can be frustrating. I will hope that every reader gets relief in the name of Jesus. Thank you so much for having this post up so I can know that someone has experienced this in their on way.
Don’t stop saying the prayer to St Michael the Archangel and the Our Father. Keep rebuking these spirits in the name of Jesus Christ.
Oh I wish I could get to know you better. I’ve been searching for years to find someone who has a similar understanding of the Devil. I’ve felt so alone in my understanding. Until I read your article. You are awesome and even though I don’t know you. I feel so blessed to have found you. Please communicate with me a little if you can. I’ve been quiet about what I know for a long long time. Praying for someone to share my knowledge with. Thank you ❤️ for doing what you do.
Honestly, there is no scripture to indicate Satan can speak to us in our heads. He spoke to the first Adam (Eve actually) in the garden and it’s not indicated he spoke to man again until the second Adam (Jesus Christ). And nowhere else in scripture does it say Satan did or can speak to man. In fact, Satan is not omnipresent so how can he be speaking to all of you who are “tormented” by him. The truth is Satan’s temptation caused man to fall and every other sin is on us. The voice you hear in your head is your mind. According to Romans 8:7, our carnal mind is “enmity” or “in a state of opposition” with God. Satan and his angels are our greatest foe but never forget a vast majority of the problems we have are our own fault because we’re not fully submitted to the Lord.
And Daryl, if you’re being tormented in your mind, let me ask this? What do you watch/listen to/read/think about during the day? How much time do you spend reading God’s Word? How much time do you spend in prayer? If we spend our time filling our minds with garbage, that’s usually what we get back. It’s like putting non-stop junk food in your stomach and expecting to not get sick. But if you put good things in your mind, good things will come out. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”