Do Satan and his minions listen to prayer requests?

Can Satan or his demonic minions hear our prayers?

Yes, Satan and his demons are likely able to listen in on our petitions to God. It’s doubtful they’re paying attention to each and every one of our prayers. Although, I have no doubt that Satan can listen in if he so chooses.

C. S. Lewis cautioned his readers of two equally dangerous misconceptions about Satan in the book’s prologue to The Screwtape Letters: an obsessive fascination with the devil and a complete denial of his existence. Both are false, both may be harmful, and both are supported by Satan’s approval. Know that Satan is a man-made creature with a very short leash. God has a firm grasp on the other end of the leash. To be oblivious to Satan’s schemes is not virtuous (2 Corinthians 2:11), but we may take solace in the knowledge that he will ultimately be defeated (Revelation 20:10). The Devil should be given credit where credit is due, but not any more.

The Old Testament book of Job lifts the veil and reveals Satan’s strategies:

One day, the sons of God gathered to worship the Lord, and Satan joined them. God questioned Satan, “Where did you come from?” In response to the Lord, Satan responded, “From walking up and down on the ground.” A clean and honest man who respects God and shuns evil, the Lord replied to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth?” The Devil then retorted to God, saying, “Does Job dread God for no reason?” You must have surrounded him and his property with a fence or hedge, right? Since you supported his efforts, he now has more property in the country. But if you reach out and take anything from him, he will condemn you right in front of everyone. To which the Lord said, “Behold, everything that he possesses is in your control. The only person you shouldn’t raise your hand to is him. This resulted in Satan leaving the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:12–16 (ESV)

The Devil exists. God can call on Satan whenever He wants. If God called, he had to go. Satan is God’s servant in the most literal sense. The devil, puffed up with pride, would take offense at such an accusation, yet his abilities, although great by human standards, pale in comparison to the infinite power and majesty of our Creator.

A closer reading of Job 1 reveals that Satan is likely privy to our dialogues with God, even if he is not explicitly stated to be able to hear our requests. In other words, Satan knew all there was to know about Job. Perhaps Satan had been secretly watching Job for some time and had listened to his pleas. The extent to which the devil may read a human’s mind and hear his or her secret prayers is a mystery. Has he mastered mind reading? Does he know what we say in our hearts to God the Father? According to the Bible, only God can really read our minds (1 Kings 8:39). The devil may not know everything, but God knows everything (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 139:2; Jeremiah 17:10).

The prayers of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, were known to the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:13), yet Gabriel acted only as God commanded. Furthermore, a fallen angel would not necessarily have access to knowledge known to Gabriel or the celestial hosts.

Whether or whether Satan and his minions can really listen to our prayers is ultimately irrelevant. Even if the adversary overhears our conversations with our Heavenly Father, that’s okay. Despite Satan’s efforts, our Father will fulfill His purposes. What did the prophet Daniel do while he was under constant surveillance by his physical and political adversaries? The windows of his higher room looked out over Jerusalem, so he went there. As he had done before, he prayed and thanked God three times a day (Daniel 6:10, ESV). It made little difference that his adversaries were listening in and observing. In a moment of desperation, he prayed.

Are you looking to take revenge on our long-standing enemy? Do you want to make hell’s gates shake? A sincere dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ, regular prayer, study of God’s Word, participation in corporate worship, and practical demonstrations of love for our neighbors are like blows to the face of Satan. Each of us should do everything we can to make today a miserable one for the Devil.