Cleaning

Written by Tesia Hoffman

It seems as if housework never ends. Wiping, tidying, clearing, putting away, picking up…repeat. Especially as a woman. As I have been tempted to begrudgingly do my duties, God has shown me two things that have totally changed my attitude and perspective. I have shared them in two parts.

Part One: The Maidservant.

I once heard a story of a maidservant. Her job was to clean out and light all the fireplaces on an estate at five o’clock in the morning.  When someone took pity on her for having to do such a dirty job at such an early hour, her response was, “Don’t take pity on me, they are paying me to do my daily devotions! As I clean out each fireplace I’m asking the Lord to clean out my heart. As I’m lighting each fire I’m praying the Lord would light a fire in me. That I would burn hot with passion, love, and devotion to Christ!”

House chores have never been enjoyable, but rather something I endure. As I was doing the dishes one morning and humming to myself “Jesus Saves,” my husband blurted out,

“You’re such a good wife.”

“Thank you Husband. What inspired that? Just because?”

“Because you’re doing all the chores with joy.”

“Thank You, Lord. God must be answering my prayers.”

As God has been convicting me of doing everything for His glory and with joy, He has reminded me that doing the dishes and tidying up after my family will be an act of love and service for many days to come. That wiping counters and clearing tables won’t go anywhere any time soon, so now is the time to learn how to live in joy and do everything with gladness. To learn how to love both others and Christ, through cleaning. I have often thought back to that maidservant. As I wipe, I pray the Lord would wipe my heart clean. As I vacuum, I pray the Lord would suck all the sin and selfishness out of me. As I put things in order, I pray the Lord would put my life and priorities in order. I have been praying that God would meet with me while I clean and the intimacy would be so strong that I would desire to do chores, knowing that Jesus is going to be there. That His Spirit is going to come upon me and change me as I change the space around me. My husband’s comment is evidence of change. Thank You, Jesus, for enabling me to love and serve You as I love and serve through cleaning.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:24

•••

Part Two: Order

“For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people).”

1 Corinthians 14:33 AMPC

The other day I was tired. Tired of wiping, throwing away, picking up, organizing, putting away, cleaning, sorting, tidying…it never ends. As if in revolt and protestation, I complained to my husband, “I’m tired of bringing order to the disorder.” What did my wonderful husband do? He began to help me bring order. Sorting, organizing, putting things away, and even pulling out the vacuum. Conviction filled my heart. As I was doing the dishes I felt God speak to me, “I bring order to disorder everywhere I go. To bring order to the disorder is to be like Me.” Suddenly, bringing order didn’t seem so unbearable, but rather desirable. I repented of my attitude and asked Jesus to help me be like Him. To bring order to the disorder with joy. I thanked Him that He was conforming me to His image and making me like Him (Rom. 8:29).

Then I thought of all the moms out there. How many get tired of wiping, changing, picking up after, organizing…bringing order to the disorder. And I thought, “Oh Lord, prepare me now. May I be ready then to do it all with joy and gladness. Give me the grace I’ll need.”

So to all the moms out there, I just want to encourage you. Your job does not go unseen. What you do matters. You are the hands and feet of Jesus every time you bring order to your household. He is making you like Him. I pray that you can serve your Master with joy, knowing your labor won’t go unrewarded. I pray your intimacy with Jesus is increased as you clean, knowing He is making you like Him.

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Written by Tesia Hoffman

Tesia Hoffman is the author of lifeisbeauty-full.com which is all about finding God’s beauty in a fallen world and bringing the hope and healing of Jesus Christ through honesty and vulnerability. Through transparently sharing her own real life struggles and victories in Jesus Christ, she hopes you yourself will encounter Jesus and gain victory in your own life. You can find daily discoveries of beauty on her Instagram/Facebook.

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