Blue Monday???

Blue Monday, how I hate Blue Monday, got to work like a slave all day.
Fats Domino

British psychologist Cliff Arnall has designated January 21, 2008 as Blue Monday – the most miserable day of the year. Arnall used a mathematical equation to determine that January 21 is the gloomiest and most depressing day of the year.
His equation takes into account six factors:

• bad weather
• unpaid Christmas bills
• post-Christmas fatigue
• failed New Year’s resolutions
• low motivation levels
• the feeling of a need to take action

Taken together, they calculate to equal "Blue Monday.""The truth is a lot of people feel down at this time and a lot of people have depression as well, particularly men, and they don't want to talk about it," Arnall said.

While we all get in an emotional slump from time to time, for the Christian it should only be a short walk through the valley. When we are experiencing a down or “blue” time it is usually due to focusing on what we are lacking or haven’t done correctly instead of considering what blessings we have in our lives. I am not talking about clinical depression, which is a result of some chemical imbalance in some people’s genetic makeup. I am simply talking about the times when we allow circumstances to bring us to an emotional breakdown.

Just in case you need a reminder of just how blessed you are, consider the following:

• If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.
• If you have money in the bank and in your wallet and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthiest.
• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
• If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
• If you can read this blog, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

I am going to make a statement that might make a few uncomfortable, but as a pastor I feel it needs to be said. To allow the minor things of this world to eclipse the great blessings God has given us is sinful, and we need to ask our Father to forgive us for forgetting His goodness. In your prayers, ask God to remind you how rich you are in Him. After all, we are children of the King of all creation and no matter how bad things get in our lives; we have the promise of a perfect eternity with Him.

Count your blessings Name them one by one Count your blessings See what God has done
Johnson Oatman Jr.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:31