How does the Satan act?

[Claude_Frollo]

Hi,

Can Satan influence our minds ? Not exactly by controlling it but causing some disorder in thinking as we especially try to think God and as we pray. Can he interfere in our thoughts ?

Please share your knowledge, opinions and if there is, your experiences with me.

 

[Syele]

Satan is sometimes called the Great Deceiver. Cause that is how he acts. He can enter our thoughts and tell us convincing things.

The best strategy he has IMO, is to convince you of something once, then forever after you are already convinced and act on it without him there to harass you into it over and over. If Satan can convince you that you are, say, Worthless, and you are really convinced you will behave as if you are worthless for years. He isn’t sitting there reminding you over and over, you will remind yourself because then you’d be deceived.

He is usually not gonna go appearing to you as a scary looking thing doing obvious evil things and beckoning you to follow, if he did why would you follow? You wouldn’t, you’d call on God to save you from him. Instead he uses enticing approaches.

 

[reggieM]

Hi,

Can Satan influence our minds ? Not exactly by controlling it but causing some disorder in thinking as we especially try to think God and as we pray. Can he interfere in our thoughts ?

Please share your knowledge, opinions and if there is, your experiences with me.

Yes, sometimes when you’re trying to pray or when you start getting closer to God, there will be disturbance from Satan. The great Catholic spiritual writers teach about this.

The results can be temporary disorder, sometimes unwanted temptations of thought, distractions, uncomfortableness, a feeling like you have to go away from prayer (far beyond anything natural or normal), or what is called “desolation” – this is a feeling of dryness of spirit.

Sometimes even stronger things can happen but it’s more rare.

The answer for this is to fight this desolation by “returning enemy fire”. This means, when you get these attacks, do a little bit more. Say an extra prayer, do a little act of penance (kneel down, or put your arms out at the side for the space of a decade of the rosary).

The rosary is the great prayer-weapon against Satan. Eventually, if you stay with the rosary and get good at it (with practice you’ll get better all the time, just like anything we do) – you’ll drive away Satan with more ease and eventually he won’t be able to attack because it won’t do him any good.

When you experience these things though, don’t get worried. It’s a sign that God is helping you to advance in the spiritual life.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

No. It’s just us.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[Syele]

No. It’s just us.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

You don’t believe in Satan?

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

You don’t believe in Satan?

I do, but I think he does the same thing I believe God does: Bet on who will take the devil’s way or the saint’s way. I honestly think both of them are just sitting back in there respective domains and just watching us… [creepy]

It’s cool, though. An insight like that gives me the edge in explaining natural disasters to doubting believers in God.

Ironically Yours.

 

[ATBAC]

I honestly think both of them are just sitting back in there respective domains and just watching us… [creepy]

LOL. …in a way I agree with you because otherwise why would God send Satan to one of His most devout worshippers: Job? why can’t He send him to sombody who at least deserves him?

Claude,

Yes, Satan is real, and the best way to keep out of his sight is to not put yourself in a postion where, you will be talked out of doing what is best for you in the long run. In my case, the most beautiful gift Christ has given and shown me is Forgiveness, and as I try to regularly forgive and ask to be forgiven, oftentimes, past hurts and pains are brought back to the surface to make me relinquish the forgiveness I have already permanently decreed in the Presence of Christ. Christ shown me through the healing I have received from Him, via practicing 2 way street forgiveness while talking to Him that what Forgiveness does to its practicer, is turn them into a gate or a bridge to heaven off which devine restoration will be poured out to the world and to those who need it. To give you a little illustration, I would say imagine how empty jails and courts would be for example if people took time to forgive one another, how hospitals would be vacant because victims of assault or attempted murder won’t be if they are forgiven by their assailants etc. the world would simply heal and in an absolutely out of this world way. Christ wants us to forgive one another (forgiveness of course is just an example, one could think of humily, egolessness, love along with all of Christ’s other traits)because He knows the potential that has on dramatically restoring our world in every way imaginable. Of course Satan does not want that, so for a person that struggles to forgive, he would for example, bring up to their attention all reasons why forgiveness is not good for them. He would tell them that the person they try to forgive is evil and does not deserve to be forgiven for the hurt they caused, etc. so unless the person counter attack by affirming for example “so am I, and I don’t deserve to be forgiven either but, still Christ forgave me, so it is my duty to forgive that person, it is my duty to pass on what Christ is sharing with me though I in many ways don’t deserve it.” unless the person does that, chances are Satan will subdue that person and talk them into commiting an act that would contribute to helping the deterioration of our world.

This is of course just an example, there are countless ones.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

LOL. …in a way I agree with you because otherwise why would God send Satan to one of His most devout worshippers: Job? why can’t He send him to sombody who at least deserves him?

Claude,

Yes, Satan is real, and the best way to keep out of his sight is to not put yourself in a postion where, you will be talked out of doing what is best for you in the long run. In my case, the most beautiful gift Christ has given and shown me is Forgiveness, and as I try to regularly forgive and ask to be forgiven, oftentimes, past hurts and pains are brought back to the surface to make me relinquish the forgiveness I have already permanently decreed in the Presence of Christ. Christ shown me through the healing I have received from Him, via practicing 2 way street forgiveness while talking to Him that what Forgiveness does to its practicer, is turn them into a gate or a bridge to heaven off which devine restoration will be poured out to the world and to those who need it. To give you a little illustration, I would say imagine how empty jails and courts would be for example if people took time to forgive one another, how hospitals would be vacant because victims of assault or attempted murder won’t be if they are forgiven by their assailants etc. the world would simply heal and in an absolutely out of this world way. Christ wants us to forgive one another (forgiveness of course is just an example, one could think of humily, egolessness, love along with all of Christ’s other traits)because He knows the potential that has on dramatically restoring our world in every way imaginable. Of course Satan does not want that, so for a person that struggles to forgive, he would for example, bring up to their attention all reasons why forgiveness is not good for them. He would tell them that the person they try to forgive is evil and does not deserve to be forgiven for the hurt they caused, etc. so unless the person counter attack by affirming for example “so am I, and I don’t deserve to be forgiven either but, still Christ forgave me, so it is my duty to forgive that person, it is my duty to pass on what Christ is sharing with me though I in many ways don’t deserve it.” unless the person does that, chances are Satan will subdue that person and talk them into commiting an act that would contribute to helping the deterioration of our world.

This is of course just an example, there are countless ones.

I think I get I see what you’re saying: Satan makes 1 negative seem more powerful than 1000 positives.

Well, I still think it’s just us. It’s how we deal with certain situations that make us who we are and determine where we go in Life and after Life.

Ironically Yours.

 

[Claude_Frollo]

Claude,

Yes, Satan is real, and the best way to keep out of his sight is to not put yourself in a postion where, you will be talked out of doing what is best for you in the long run. In my case, the most beautiful gift Christ has given and shown me is Forgiveness, and as I try to regularly forgive and ask to be forgiven, oftentimes, past hurts and pains are brought back to the surface to make me relinquish the forgiveness I have already permanently decreed in the Presence of Christ. Christ shown me through the healing I have received from Him, via practicing 2 way street forgiveness while talking to Him that what Forgiveness does to its practicer, is turn them into a gate or a bridge to heaven off which devine restoration will be poured out to the world and to those who need it. To give you a little illustration, I would say imagine how empty jails and courts would be for example if people took time to forgive one another, how hospitals would be vacant because victims of assault or attempted murder won’t be if they are forgiven by their assailants etc. the world would simply heal and in an absolutely out of this world way. Christ wants us to forgive one another (forgiveness of course is just an example, one could think of humily, egolessness, love along with all of Christ’s other traits)because He knows the potential that has on dramatically restoring our world in every way imaginable. Of course Satan does not want that, so for a person that struggles to forgive, he would for example, bring up to their attention all reasons why forgiveness is not good for them. He would tell them that the person they try to forgive is evil and does not deserve to be forgiven for the hurt they caused, etc. so unless the person counter attack by affirming for example “so am I, and I don’t deserve to be forgiven either but, still Christ forgave me, so it is my duty to forgive that person, it is my duty to pass on what Christ is sharing with me though I in many ways don’t deserve it.” unless the person does that, chances are Satan will subdue that person and talk them into commiting an act that would contribute to helping the deterioration of our world.

This is of course just an example, there are countless ones.

You tell me that Forgiveness is a weapon against Satan, I find this true.

 

[sodak]

By accepting a little sin, larger sins become easier to act on. Satan is the great deceiver and the great liar.

I’m always bemused by popular songs and movies that show someone making a deal with the devil and then beating him. They always show the devil as an honorable creature and then making good. Don’t you believe it! He’ll never be that way, he’s not honorable!

As mentioned, the Rosary is a great weapon. If you find yourself distracted during prayer, stopping and saying St. Leo’s prayer to St. Michael can often help.

On another thread, someone mentioned using our Lord’s name lovingly and prayerfully many times during prayer. After all, every knee must bow to the name of Jesus. I don’t know how theologically sound it is, but the idea of forcing the devil to his knees several times during prayer is quite an appealing thought to me!

 

[ATBAC]

I think I get I see what you’re saying: Satan makes 1 negative seem more powerful than 1000 positives.

That too on a certain level, and the easiest way to illustrate it is to consider how long does it take a tree to grow to a full size (few decades) but when it comes to bringing it down? only a lit match and 10 mns. Energy is Energy, and depending on how one uses/channels it, it has the potential to cause good or destruction. I personally believe postive energy comes from the Father since all that is beautiful cannot have been created from the darkness and evil, and beauty is anything but dark and evil.
In regard to Satan, I am starting to believe that his purpose is to generate the various scenarios that would allow us to practice and grow spiritually in the Father’s school. I believe that our purpose on this earth is to learn to self master using the High Road, that of Jesus. And in order to do that, there has to be a bad for us to fight, if everything was good, we’d just sit there like bunch of useless lazy bumbs. In the world we live in, there is work to do, there is evil to exterminate or absorb through the spread of love etc., there is sickeness to heal, there is ignorance to remedy etc. Satan’s job is to derail one, distract them out of Christ’s sight. Depending on the person’s background and upbringing, they’d either fight evil by joining it and that just insures whoever’s distruction. But if they fight (on the thought level) resorting to what Christ teaches us to fight with, we will prevail and beyond the current world we live in.

Well, I still think it’s just us. It’s how we deal with certain situations that make us who we are and determine where we go in Life and after Life.

Ironically Yours.

There is more than just us. The focus on the God & Satan existence question can be compared to the zooming mechanism of an optical lense. Once one specifically zooms in on one thing using a lense, whatever is around that thing simply seems to dissolve and dis-appear, but just because it no longer seems to be there does not mean it ceased to exist or it does not exist. You want to see God, you have to make the decision to zoom in on Him. Once you do that, you will be able to see Him.

 

[ATBAC]

You tell me that Forgiveness is a weapon against Satan, I find this true.

Again, forgiveness is just one tool. There are others. The ideal would be for one to learn to master all of them. Christ is humble, that makes humilty one, He is forgiving, loving, focused, egoless, generous, Doctor, Teacher, etc. of course some of us or all of us cannot be all these things but they can work to master few of them.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

There is more than just us. The focus on the God & Satan existence question can be compared to the zooming mechanism of an optical lense. Once one specifically zooms in on one thing using a lense, whatever is around that thing simply seems to dissolve and dis-appear, but just because it no longer seems to be there does not mean it ceased to exist or it does not exist. You want to see God, you have to make the decision to zoom in on Him. Once you do that, you will be able to see Him.

Oh, I know God is there; that’s a given in my mind and my Life, but I feel like He’s just hanging out and watching over us, hoping and praying that we take His side. Sure He may throw us a couple of bones, but I think He wants us to come to Him on our own.

Ironically Yours.

 

[ATBAC]

Oh, I know God is there; that’s a given in my mind and my Life,

The background to couple of the posts I read seems to relate otherwise. But then again, it’s none of my business.

but I feel like He’s just hanging out and watching over us, hoping and praying that we take His side.

hanging, hoping and praying?? your feeling is wrong, feelings can be very unreliable. If on one hand you know God is “there” and on the other you feel He is hanging out, hoping and praying that we pick Him over Satan, don’t you think you are contradicting yourself? someone who would resort to such “transactions” in the hope that his creation follows Him couldn’t possibly be God, He on one hand is capable of creating the world as we know it but on the other, He can only pray that we follow Him? If I misunderstood you, could you please elaborate on your statement a little bit?

Sure He may throw us a couple of bones, but I think He wants us to come to Him on our own.

Ironically Yours.

Hence His school. Some are going to graduate and others won’t.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

The background to couple of the posts I read seems to relate otherwise. But then again, it’s none of my business.

hanging, hoping and praying?? your feeling is wrong, feelings can be very unreliable. If on one hand you know God is “there” and on the other you feel He is hanging out, hoping and praying that we pick Him over Satan, don’t you think you are contradicting yourself? someone who would resort to such “transactions” in the hope that his creation follows Him couldn’t possibly be God, He on one hand is capable of creating the world as we know it but on the other, He can only pray that we follow Him? If I misunderstood you, could you please elaborate on your statement a little bit?

Hence His school. Some are going to graduate and others won’t.

You’ll have to forgive me. My views on my own Catholic faith are very complex. Sometimes, I may give off the impression of being Agnostic or even anti-Christian, in rare cases!

But I’m a believer of God, no matter how “contradicting” I may sound; it’s just a complex topic that would take an entirely different thread for me to explain. Even then, you still may not be able to understand.

Ironically Yours.

 

[mcs7474]

Why is it always satan? He cannot be everywhere at once, he’s not God, but rather a creature.

How about the ones who tempt us are satan AND his demons? The only reason it seems satan get so much “credit” is because he was the first to dissent from God.

He certainly cannot be everywhere tempting everyone, he has lots of help.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Why is it always satan? He cannot be everywhere at once, he’s not God, but rather a creature.

How about the ones who tempt us are satan AND his demons? The only reason it seems satan get so much “credit” is because he was the first to dissent from God.

He certainly cannot be everywhere tempting everyone, he has lots of help.

It’s interesting that you mention that, actually.

I always knew Satan could not be everywhere, but I always thought of Satan as–well-- a philosophy. Not philosopher, philosophy.

Ironically Yours.

 

[ATBAC]

You’ll have to forgive me. My views on my own Catholic faith are very complex. Sometimes, I may give off the impression of being Agnostic or even anti-Christian, in rare cases!

But I’m a believer of God, no matter how “contradicting” I may sound; it’s just a complex topic that would take an entirely different thread for me to explain. Even then, you still may not be able to understand.

Ironically Yours.

gotcha! I would still love to read that thread. Not to stand on your way or anything but to just help broaden my own perspective. Thank you.

 

[ATBAC]

Why is it always satan? He cannot be everywhere at once, he’s not God, but rather a creature.

How about the ones who tempt us are satan AND his demons? The only reason it seems satan get so much “credit” is because he was the first to dissent from God.

He certainly cannot be everywhere tempting everyone, he has lots of help.

I believe Satan is multi dimentional. if he was just a 4 D being, he would not be able to cause so much harm. As multi-dimentional malevolent being, he can cause havoc at several places all at the same time, and you mentioned his demons. They sure are part of it.

 

[By_His_Mercy]

Hi,

Can Satan influence our minds ? Not exactly by controlling it but causing some disorder in thinking as we especially try to think God and as we pray. Can he interfere in our thoughts ?

Please share your knowledge, opinions and if there is, your experiences with me.

Wow, what a question! I think Satan can, since Jesus said “get behind Me Satan” when Peter was trying to interfere with Jesus’ foretold death (Matthew 16:21-23). So Peter’s whole attitude was one of taking control himself - to stop what was necessary in God’s plan. Sounds like Satan’s attitude. So yes, I think Satan causes disorder in our thinking.

Also, Satan can influence things that influence us. Like music…like AC/DC’s music. That music glorifies disorder…murder for hire (“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheep”), going to hell triumphantly (“Highway to Hell”), etc. If we listen to that…certainly our own thinking can get disordered…especially when it’s drilled in.

God bless you,