GLORIFYING GOD IN THE MUNDANE MOMENTS OF LIFE
When you think about glorifying God, what picture comes to mind? Is it making the big decision to follow God's path when you don't have all the answers? Is it quitting your job and going into full time ministry? Or is it selling all you own and giving it to the poor? Yes, these are ways we can glorify God and often feel like big moments of obedience. But how do we glorify God in the mundane? In our everyday lives?
In our moments of motherhood, sleepless nights, dinner preparations, and cleaning routines? In the seemingly little moments that are in fact big moments that do not only require a once-off "big decision" but that require daily, often unseen obedience and sacrifice? When we have a laundry list of things to do, which always includes laundry itself. When we are washing the dishes for the millionth time, or sweeping the floors that attract dirt even as we do it.
I have to confess, sometimes I am just trying to get through the day. On hard days, I have found myself watching the clock, counting down the hours to nap time or bedtime so I can get a break. On other days I have grumbled and complained as I packed the dishwasher and had to hang the laundry, again. Didn't I just do that the other day?
The truth is, these daily, repetitive tasks can feel as though they are just obstacles to things more worthy of our time. But for most of us, these are the very things we are called to view through a new lens. They are not a hindrance to our real life, they are a part of our lives. And they provide many opportunities for us to practice glorifying God because they challenge our hearts.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul talks about living a life that brings glory to God. And the thing that astonishes me most is that this Paul whom we know lived a life that glorified God, whether that was being shipwrecked for his faith, persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, and more. Yet, when he talks about glorifying God it is not simply in these seemingly big moments, or circumstances that would be unusual for most of our day to day lives.
No, he refers to the simplest, everyday tasks that we have grown to do without even giving a second thought to it. Eating and drinking. Even in the most mundane of daily tasks Paul says we can, and should give God glory. This really emphasizes the truth that all things were made for God and for His glory, including every part of our lives. How amazing is it to know it is not only when we do something that seems outwardly significant but even when we do the smallest, seemingly insignificant task with the right intent we can bring glory to God.
But how can we give glory to God in the mundane moments of life?
RESISTING THE URGE TO GRUMBLE AND COMPLAIN
Let's be honest, grumbling can feel like such a natural response to tasks that feel tedious. We might not even think twice about our internal conversation, or even the outward complaining we do as we do our daily tasks. But it affects us more than we realize. When we choose to grumble about things, we are choosing not to show gratitude. In Philippians 2:14-15, we are told to, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”
It is important for us to consider the context in which these verses are written. Paul is encouraging and urging the believers in Philippi to imitate Christ's humility. In the verses preceding these he speaks of how Jesus humbled Himself, though He was God, He made Himself nothing and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross. If there was anyone who had a right to complain, it would be Christ. Yet, He humbled Himself and He glorified God even to the point of death.
Though most of our lives do not require physical death, we are called to die to our flesh daily. As children of God, we are called to imitate Him both in His life and death. The example He has shown us is one of humility, obedience and sacrifice. When we view our daily lives in the light of what Christ has done for us, we realize just how little we have to complain about and how much we have to be grateful for.
PRACTICING GRATITUDE IN ALL THINGS
When we have become accustomed to going through our day on autopilot, it can be tough to train ourselves to pause and practice gratitude. It is not something that happens automatically, and when certain tasks or responsibilities have been accompanied by thoughts of complaint it can quickly become habitual. But Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I love how this scripture does not speak of certain situations in which we're to practice being prayerful and grateful. It says in every situation. When thoughts of complaint arise, we can trade them for prayers of gratitude. As we catch ourselves complaining about tasks, we can take a moment to pause and thank God for His kindness towards us and the ways He provides for us daily.
RENEWING OUR MINDS AND OUR VIEW OF DAILY LIFE
We need more than will power in order to change our mindset about the "mundane" things of life. We need to ask God not only to renew our minds, but also to reframe it. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." God's Word has the power to renew our minds and change our old patterns of thinking. By memorizing scripture about gratitude and not grumbling, we can store God's Word in our hearts and minds. When we replace our thoughts of complaint with thanksgiving, prayer and scripture, we are experiencing this renewal of mind.
What are simple and practical ways we can reframe the way we think? Realizing the fact that I have dishes to clean means we have food to eat, thanking God for His providence. That having a home to sweep means that I have a roof over my head, thanking God for His protection. That the fact that I have toys to clean up, or diapers to change means that God has answered my prayer, one that many others are desperate to have answered.
There are so many more things that we can reframe. Tasks that we do in the day that we may not always look forward to. Things that we can take a moment to look at from a different perspective. Trying to find, not the easiest way to get out of it, but to seek a way in which you can see God in it, and find ways to glorify Him through it. Think about the daily tasks and responsibilities in your life that you have to fulfill. Which of those tasks do you dread? Which have earned your unrestrained complaint? Ask God to help you glorify Him in those tasks today.
When God's Word renews our minds, we come to realize that there is no such thing as "mundane". For the believer, we are not dividing our lives between the godly and secular. All we do has the opportunity to glorify God. It is all holy work, because through it we get to glorify God without grumbling and complaining, with much prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.