It was advertised that the Devil was going to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale, the tools were placed for public inspection, each being marked with its sale price.
They were a treacherous lot of implements: Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying, Pride, and so on comprised the lot.
Laid apart from the rest was a harmless-looking tool, well worn and priced ridiculously high.
"What is the name of that tool?" asked one of the purchasers, pointing to it.
"That is Discouragement", tersely replied the Devil.
"Why is it priced so high?"
"Because it is more useful to me than the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's heart with that when I cannot get near him with other tools. Once I get inside, I can make him do what I choose.
It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone since few people know it belongs to me."
Lifting each of you in prayer this afternoon. Be encouraged...we serve a mighty God!