Satan controls your thoughts by tricking your mind.
The Devil cannot control your actions. He has power over you by making you think like he wants you to. It’s his battlefield. He entices you to sin by making you feel you need something or need to do something.
What solves this? First, guard your thinking by asking, “What would Jesus do?” Then pray for the Holy Spirit, who lives inside all Christians, to help you. God will help you when you ask.
The Devil knows the desires of your heart, and he will use one of them against you. He will control your mind, and you won’t be able to quit thinking about that desire. Remember that the grass always seems greener on the other side—but that isn’t always true.
Satan controls you by offering you a way to get that desire.
It is usually very specific. And it happens most often when you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired—the acronym HALT. So remember to question your decisions when you feel one of these ways.
The Devil will try to convince you that God is not giving you his best—that you can have all the desires of your heart without working for them. These are all lies.
Satan controls you by creating doubt.
The Devil will make you question something you already know the Bible says by making you think you misunderstood it. That causes you to sin.
Remember not to make decisions in haste. Instead, take time to think them through. Pray over them. And listen for God’s answer.
If you keep a journal, look through it and see the last time you succumbed to one of Satan’s temptations. For example, were you hungry, angry, tired, or lonely?
How do you stop Satan from controlling you?
When you feel tempted, remember that everything the Devil says is a lie. John 8:44 says, “…he is a liar and the father of lies.” He will use other people, even friends and family, to pull you away from God. His goal is to keep you busy so you can’t fulfill your God-given purpose on earth. Don’t let him. Read your Bible, pray, go to church, sing worship songs. These will occupy your mind so that Satan can’t.
Draw strength from God and resist the Devil by trusting God, telling the Devil you will not listen to him. Quote the Bible to him, “It is written … and fill in the Bible verse that fits your temptation.” Finally, remember that the Holy Spirit lives in Christians—he will help you. If you are not a Christian, read this post about this free gift.
Prayer for: does Satan control you?
“Lord, remove the devil from my mind and house.”
Hi Tammy. I am a Christian and have never heard of HALT. Thank you for introducing this acronym to me. I am going to try and be more aware of these lower times in my life that Satan tries to sneak in. Right now, I’m having difficulty with sleeping and it’s very frustrating. I guess it’s been a problem on and off since becoming an adult but definitely is becoming a real problem recently. I could use some prayer please. Thank you.
Hi Wendy, you are most welcome. I will definitely pray for you. Sometimes listening to sermons or reading the Bible helps to fall asleep—when you do, his Word is active in your mind. I pray God will pull you close and clearly show you his will for your life, that you sleep well, and that the Holy Spirit will stop Satan’s attacks. And I also asked God to bless you.
Thank you Tammy for pointing out how Satan worms his way into our minds. I tell my grandkids to put on the “Armor of God” in the morning to protect them from the evil one for the day. Satan is powerful but only to the degree God allows.
I agree, pray when you feel tempted. A Christian on her/his knees is Satan’s worst nightmare! God bless you.
Satan hates it when we turn to God with our temptations and problems, although sometimes I do momentarily forget to go to Him first.
Upon waking, I always pray for God to put His armor on Mike and me for the day. It’s probably one of my favorite prayers.