Psalm 94:11 English Standard Version (ESV) the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

Does Satan know what you are thinking? I said yesterday that when we speak Satan hears. When we act Satan sees. The only power Satan has in this world is influence. I am not saying Satan places temptation in our way. It is all a matter of statistical probability. When it comes down to temptation much of it is spread by the desires of others to gain something from us.

What catches our eye at the store counter where they have magazines lined up for us to buy? They target the most likely influences for their sale. If it is a food magazine, it is a picture of an appetizing meal. What makes that the picture of choice? Statistical probability.

Scandal rags place the celebrity of the week with defaming words. Who is their target? Those who judge quickly and love to gossip.

Diet books strike at the core of our deep seated insecurities. Glamour magazines do the same thing as fitness magazines, and it is all about statistics and how to sell their product. Is the devil behind that?

The issue here is thought control and how to avoid being used and abused. We are people who think and we have a past that cannot be undone. We must come to a point where our past no longer defines our thinking process.

Romans 14:1 ESV As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

We all have opinions and some rationale for why we hold those opinions. It is not a subject for debate. So what does our opinion do to others? Do we become healthy encouragers or a distraction from what really matters?

That is Satan’s influence at work, distracting us from truth and that keeps us from having that abundant life in Christ.