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I’d like to ask you a question: What do you think is the most effective tool our enemy Satan uses against the followers of Jesus Christ? He sure has lots of them, and he comes at us from every direction, but certainly one of, if not the most potent weapon he uses, is discouragement. I’d like to share a short piece with you entitled “The Devil’s Best Tool.”
“It was once announced that the devil was going out of business and would offer all his tools for sale, to whoever would pay his price.
“On the night of the sale they were all attractively displayed, and a bad looking lot they were. Malice, hatred, envy, jealousy, sensuality, and deceit, and all the other implements of evil were spread out, each marked with its own price.
“Apart from the rest lay a harmless looking wedge-shaped tool, much worn and priced higher than any of the others. Someone asked the devil what it was. ‘That’s discouragement,’ was the reply. ‘Well, why do you have it priced so high?’ ‘Because,’ replied the devil, ‘it is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a person’s consciousness with that when I could not get near her or him with any of the others, and when once inside, I can use that person in whatever way suits me best. It is so much worn because I use it with nearly everybody, since few people yet know it belongs to me.’
“It hardly needs to be added that the devil’s price for discouragement was so high that it was never sold. He still owns it and is still using it.
“Is he using it on you? Do not be his next victim. Encourage yourself in the Lord.”
Obviously this is a fairy-tale, but it drives home an important truth. Many of us are defeated continually because we get discouraged so easily. If you’re discouraged today, realize that Satan has used this tool on you again. Pray and ask God to deliver you from discouragement. Stand against the enemy and claim victory in prayer. Encouragement is listed in Romans 12:8 as one of the gifts given to the body of Christ; we need more encouragers. Maybe that’s a gift we should all pray for.
Be an encourager today. If you are, you will defeat the plans of Satan in your life, and you will bring glory to Jesus.
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