Ever heard of Black Friday?

Ever heard of Black Friday? It's the Friday right after Thanksgiving when all the stores run sales to get a head start on the Christmas shopping season.

Although black Friday isn't an official holiday, many workers take that day off, adding to the huge crowds. This gave rise to the title "black Friday" which supposedly originated in Philadelphia, PA due to the heavy traffic that day.

This year's black Friday (November 28th) promises to be interesting, due to the economic problems this year. Despite all the sales and coupons, will the day be as big as usual, or will people hold off on spending until later?

But here's a bigger question... will the war and our economic woes nudge us toward a deeper spiritual walk with God? Will these conditions make us downplay black Friday for something greater, like bright Sunday?

Maybe we should. Maybe our whole nation, our whole world, has been so caught up in greed and materialism that we couldn't think straight. While we've been partying at the Materialism Ball, our spiritual lives have been scattered all over the map. We've seen the growth of cults and paganism, along with an incessant attack on Christians from skeptics bent on replacing Biblical beliefs with secular-anity (a religion in itself).

While they have every right to do so under our legal system, Christians should know that we are under attack. The rules have changed. We get no special respect, no quarter because we're trying to do the right thing.

We must stand up for what we believe - or even better, stand up for what the Bible teaches. And we must develop Christians with steel backbones, like the persecuted believers in much of the world today. It may be our turn next.

How can we stand up for what's right without a serious spiritual life, one strong enough to back up such bold action? You can't be a Daniel, a David or a Paul without the framework of hours of dedicated prayer.

That's why the Spirit says, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes... and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV).