Food For Thought Thursday: The Devil's Tool Sale

It was advertised that the devil

 was putting his tools up for sale.

When the day of the sale came,

 each tool was priced

 and laid out for public inspection.

And what a collection it was.

Hatred, envy, jealousy, 

deceit or pride... 

the inventory was treacherous!

Off to one side

 was a harmless-looking tool priced higher

than all the rest, even though it was 

obviously more worn

than any other tool the devil owned.

"What's the name of this tool?" 

asked one of the customers.

"That," the devil replied,

 "is discouragement."

The customer asked, 

"But why have you priced it so high?"

The devil smiled and explained,

 "Because discouragement is

more useful to me than all the others.

 I can pry open and get

inside a man's heart with that tool

 when I can't get near him

with any other.

 It's badly worn because

 I use it on almost

everyone, since few people know

 it belongs to me."

Are you discouraged...afraid...

desperately trying to find enough

energy to simply breathe? 

 God knows. And He really is your shepherd.

He understands that you may

 only be able to take one tiny, almost

imperceptible step of faith.

 But He sees you and just like a parent

applauding their child's first stumbling step, 

God will honor your step to take it.

From the devotional,

"How's Your Faith?"

By Mary Southerland

Beside Still Waters

A painting by Greg Oleson

The Lord is my Shepherd, 

to feed, guide, and shield me.

I shall not lack.

He makes me lie down in fresh,

tender green pastures; He leads me beside

the still and restful waters,

He refreshes and restores my life, my self;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness,

uprightness and right standing with Him

not for my earning it, but, for His name's sake.

Yes, though I walk through the deep, sunless

valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear or dread no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod to protect and Your staff

to guide, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the

presence of my enemies. You anoint my

head with oil; my brimming cup runs over.

Surely or only goodness, mercy, and

unfailing love shall follow me all the 

days of my life, and through

the length of my days the house of

the Lord and His presence shall 

be my dwelling place.

Psalm 23

The Amplified Bible