The Adversary Cannot Read Our Thoughts

In Sabbath School class on March 22nd, someone mention that Satan cannot read men's thoughts. I have heard this before, but I honestly didn't know where that came from nor if it was in the inspired writings and in The Word.

Well...
On Sunday morning, March 23rd, guess what was in my devotion!!!!

"Satan has his evil angels around us; and though they cannot read men’s thoughts, they closely watch their words and actions. Satan takes advantage of the weaknesses and defects of character that are thus revealed, and presses his temptations where there is the least power of resistance. He makes evil suggestions, and inspires worldly thoughts, knowing that he can thus bring the soul into condemnation and bondage." Our High Calling, Devotion for March 23

 I absolutely LOVE when The LORD does this! I love when I have a question or need clarification on something, HE ALWAYS delivers the answer right on time!!

There are other references where Sis. White mentions the limitations of the enemy:

"The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts of men; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words; he takes account of actions, and skillfully adapts his temptations to meet the cases of those who place themselves in his power. If we would labor to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or actions, Satan would be defeated; for he could not prepare his specious temptations to meet the case. But how often do professed Christians, by their lack of self-control, open the door to the adversary of souls!"—The Review & Herald, March 22, 1887. (Selected Msgs 1:122, 123)

Did you see that last quote? DID YOU SEE THE DATE - March 22, 1887!! That was exactly 127 years ago (and three days!) I just saw the date this minute, so I had to add that part in there :-D

ANYWAY, now we see the limitations of our adversary in the inspired works, next stop, finding it in THE WORD.

I did a word-search on 'satan' and in the 56 matches I found (in the KJV Bible), none mentioned anything about him reading minds.

• In 1 Chron 21:1, Satan stands next to David, and provokes him to number Israel
• In The Book of Job, Satan smites Jobs (Job 2:7)
• In Zech 3:1, he stands next to Joshua the high priest to resist (attack) him
• In Matt 4, he is also beside THE LORD and tempts him 3 times from without, but never 'reads' The LORD's mind.
• In Mark 8:33, THE LORD tells Satan to get behind Him, when speaking to Peter.

So far, in my search, I do not see any instance of the enemy being able to read someone's mind, but he seems to stand next to the person and provokes them that way.

So there you have it...now that that is answered, more questions come up:

- So is it really better (then), to pray in our minds, (since the enemy cannot hear our thoughts) than out-loud?

- Then how is it we still get these random evil thoughts in our minds? Aren't those from the enemy?

- If all the temptations of the enemy are created by our actions and propensities, shouldn't we not then be more vigilant about what we do/watch/speak and where we go?

I will stop here....to be continued...