1 Corinthians 2:11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

I have written on this subject before but it has happened to me so often that I believe it is an extremely common tactic of wicked people – domestic abusers, spiritual abusers, and others. In an effort to accuse and disempower his target/victim, an evil man will use these kinds of statements as a weapon:

• I know why you did that
• I know why you enrolled in that class
• I know why you moved to that location
• I know why you said that to me

And guess what? He will go on to complete the sentence even if you don’t want him to. He will attribute an evil or a stupid or some other kind of bad motive to you. It is all about accusing, guilting, and shaming.

Now, sometimes we can know the motives and thoughts of someone – in part at least. But not because we are able to get right inside their minds. Rather, we observe their visible actions and words. Bad fruit tells us there is a bad root. We can know for instance that a domestic abuser has a certain motive – entitlement to power and control – because we see his wicked tactics which prove to us what his evil purpose is.

The wicked however assign evil motives and thoughts to us totally apart from any visible, outward evidence to support such motives. They simply announce that they know. And you can be sure that what they claim to know about us is never good.

It is vital that we do not fall for this tactic. Think about it carefully. If someone really does know the motives and thoughts of another person, that knowledge gives them remarkable control. Sometimes I look at my dog and I see the look in her eye and I tell her, “I know what you are thinking.” And sometimes I am right! But again, when it comes to the wicked using this “I know why you did that,” tactic, they are making a baseless accusation in order to make you think that they really do know these things. You will wear the guilt and bear the shame if you fall for it.

“I know why you said that to me” – No, no you don’t know. You are simply making that claim in order to accuse me and it isn’t going to work. The Lord knows my thoughts and motives and it is to Him alone that I give account.