Miserable M

Psalms 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (KJV)

We will not tell you the name of Miserable M. We will not indicate whether Miserable M was a male or female. What we will tell you is why Miserable M is, was, and will always be miserable. Miserable M has never been sick or ill. Miserable M never had a cold. Never had the flu, but oh so miserable! Inside the secret recesses of the heart and soul of each person resides an opportunity for every person to be and/or become Miserable M. Miserable M has a miserable heart. Not a physical thing, mind you, no, Miserable M has a miserable emotional heart.

In reflecting upon what God has done for us, we are to live in the purity and holiness of thanksgiving. Miserable M could count a mountain of blessings but Miserable M believes day and night there are no blessings to count. Miserable M is, for all intents and purposes, an atheist. Miserable M's inability to see life as an outgrowth of God's love brings on the misery being suffered. In a godless world and in a godless life, misery is the outcome. Reflecting upon the blessings of God in our life brings us into the very presence of Christ.

In God's quiet peace and love we give thanks beyond our mere words to express. In the deepest part of our soul, we find God's love. When we are immersed in God's love, we naturally turn our heart, mind, and soul outward and upward toward God. Miserable M, vacant of God, disbelieving in God, using every doubt as a reason to disbelieve, is miserable because Miserable M is vacant, disbelieving, and full of doubt.

We must remember our enthusiasm for life and life's opportunities flow into us by how thankful we are. According to Miserable M, there is no content in Miserable M's life worthy of thanksgiving or appreciation on any level. Terribly for Miserable M, there is no way out of Miserable M's misery unless Miserable M meets Christ. For those of us who draw near to Christ, or at least those of us who try to draw near to Him, we have a mighty warrior standing between us and misery of the soul.

If you will live with a thankful heart giving God praise for even the smallest of blessings, the Lord will watch over you. Mind you, Miserable M wants nothing to do with God. Unfortunately for Miserable M, walking away from God has miserable consequences. We may be miserable for all kinds of non-spiritual reasons. However, even in our difficulties, we can give God praise for any and all of our blessings. The more we give God praise, the closer we come to being with Him.

If we are determined to win out over difficult circumstances in life, we can do so if we give thanks. In Miserable M's life, every difficulty is a reason to curse God and to blame God for all manner of things for which God is not to blame. Miserable M does not see God as a helper. What is worse, Miserable M sees God as an adversary…always thinking "God is against me," at the same time proclaiming there is no God.

In the heart of God from whom all blessings flow, you can always find uncountable blessings for which you can give thanks. Miserable M is not yet capable of counting blessings. Miserable M may never be able to count ANY blessings, not because she does not have blessing to count, but because Miserable M is totally blind in her spiritual and emotional infirmities. Miserable M is in deep darkness. God calls all of us to be in the Light, the Light of Christ.

Living a life full of thanksgiving is not something that just happens to you. Living a life full of thanksgiving must be done with intent and with purpose. When we see the benefits of being thankful all the time, being thankful as a lifestyle, our life is changed from bitterness, the bitterness of miserable M, to a life of sweetness, grace, and love. If we have any kind of worldly, spiritual, or heavenly objective in our life we should consider living a life full of thanksgiving to be our highest priority. Your heart and soul lives and dies depending upon how thankful you are at any moment. Living in a state of continual thanksgiving and praise brings us closer to God and permits us to be near Him in humility.

Praise His name…from whom all blessings flow.

This message was presented in Novermber, 2012 as the Virtual Church message in Shepherd's Care Ministries virtual church site at http://www.shepherdscare.net