Today's Devotional

 

November 23, 2007

                                                                                  

Subject:   Black Friday For Them?  What About Us?   

1 Peter 4:7 - "The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray." 

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Black Friday, which is the term that retailers have given to the Friday after Thanksgiving, is so called because for many of them it marks the beginning of their businesses getting back into the black.  Yes, most retailers spend most of the year in the red, i.e. in a loss posture when it comes to total earnings, so they use the holiday shopping days as a time to bilk you, excuse me, milk you out of all of your hard-earned money.   While it might mark Black Friday for them, for many who have no sense of self-control, it is going to be Red Friday.

The scripture talks about how in light of the time, we should keep our minds clear and practice self-control so that we can pray.  I think it says clearly how we are to approach, not only Black Friday, but the entire holiday season.  Though it's a great time to do it, lets not get so wrapped up in the gifts and giving that we are not thinking soberly about other responsibilities that we have, economically and spiritually.  If we start worrying about for whom we've got to buy what and forget that we've got to pay those bills, eventually we will spend more time worrying about how they are going to get paid and our minds will not be clear so that we can pray.

Today as believers, lets get back in the Black spiritually.  A surplus of spirituality is always a good thing and we'll need it so that we can pray about our Father's business.  

Carlen