I understand that Satan attacks us through our minds. How does he do this? I know all the scriptures re: girding up the mind, stay alert, think on these things, etc., are more than likely our best defense. Do you have some insight into this?
Because of our sin nature, our minds are susceptible to sinful thoughts like lust, anger, envy, jealousy, etc. James 1:14-15 says, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.”
We are under a constant barrage of things that can trigger sinful thoughts. If we reject them out of hand we haven’t sinned. But as soon as we accept them into our minds and begin to consider them, we’ve sinned even if we haven’t acted upon them. At that point Satan will try to build these things up in our minds, making action harder to resist. This is why Paul said to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)