Worship in rhythm
When it comes to the nitty-gritty . . . God has commanded us to refrain from grumbling about the dailiness of life.
Instead we are meant to accept it gratefully, as a reality that humbles us even as it give us cause for praise.
– Kathleen Norris, The Quotidian Mysteries
It’s Friday (again) and my house needs cleaning (again) and I don’t want to do it (again).
The rhythms of daily, weekly, over and over tasks can be soothing, but they can also feel mundane.
But if Jesus is my heartbeat and praise is my breath, the rhythms of my work and play are my worship. To see him in the vibrations of my Friday, my everyday, is to bring him pleasure.
When I depend on him for meaning, everything I do matters.
. . . because of why I do it and what it is transforming me into and who I am thinking about as I do it.
- In dusting the family photos
- In sweeping away our tracked-in dirt
- In wiping the surfaces we wash clean in each morning
In these I find flow.
I can worship in rhythm.
I can worship with rhythm.
Instead of reviling the rhythms, I want to revel in them.
Oh, Jesus, be my rhythm.
So it’s Friday (again!) and I get to clean my house (again!) and I want to do it in, with, and for my Rhythm (again!).
* * *
Taking 5 minutes to write about rhythm.
What routines in your week do you do with drudgery? What helps you find grace in them instead?
Hi! I’m visiting from Five Minute Friday! Love this – it’s definitely something I needed to hear, the Lord has really been using a theme in my life lately of honoring Him through the little things – like dishes, laundry and serving my family, all things that have to happen over and over and over again. Trying to find a rhythm of honor.
Thanks for sharing! Happy Friday – and happy cleaning 🙂
It’s something I struggle with, too, but want to continue growing in…finding grace in those ordinary thing we have to repeat over and over. I hear your heart of wanting to find a “rhythm of honor”–that’s a beautiful way to put it.
‘the rhythms of my work and play are my worship.’ you’ve captured the essence of our walk in one beautiful phrase. what a blessed start to my Friday!
That’s sweet to hear, Linda. I knew I needed to work on my attitude this morning and the Lord used the “rhythm” prompt to wake me up.
Instead of reviling the rhythms, I want to revel in them. Ooooh love this whole post. Thank you- because I am so learning this and I appreciate that you seem to have grasped it! Have you read Brother Lawrence? I haven’t yet but heard I might like some of what he shares…anyway wow on the new blog! Did you change yourself? Or did you have help? It looks great here, Lisa! See you for WOYN!
Yes, yes, yes to Brother Lawrence! I re-read his book every few years because I need the reminder of how he found God everywhere and that I can do that too. Not everything in the book is relevant (to me) but there’s more than enough to make it a worthwhile read…and it’s short anyway.
Thanks fpr your encouragement about my new blog look. 🙂 I switched from Blogger to WordPress on my own. Overall I’m glad I moved although there are a few things I miss.
Yes, I will see you for WOYN. One of my favorites of the month.
Dear Lisa
If I remember correctly, you have read that book of Brother Lawrence where he talks about washing dishes for his love of God! Well, you sound just like him today!
Much love XX
Mia
You’re right about that book, Mia, and I am honored by your comparison. 🙂 I don’t feel I live up to it, but I would love to. Thanks, friend.
It’s easy to grumble about the mundane tasks in life… I’m guilty of it often… Thanks for the reminder that all things are done unto the Lord and it is a choice to revel instead of revile. Thanks, Lisa.
I understand about the ease of grumbling. Even after committing this very day to avoid it, I still caught myself several times doing it. But there remains grace for all of us, right? 🙂 Thankful for Him.
I love The Quotidian Mysteries! And the post just got better from there. So thankful I stopped by from FMF.
Isn’t it a wonderful book? I’m glad to find a fellow admirer of it. It’s been over 5 years since I read it, but I kept a few quotes from it so I could retain some of its beauty, and that was one of them. Thanks for stopping by and brightening up my night.
Thank you, Lisa, for stirring my heart today. “But if Jesus is my heartbeat and praise is my breath, the rhythms of my work and play are my worship.” Yes , this is worship, the mundaneness of life. Blessings!
Thanks, Barbie. It’s often the mundaneness that gets us, yes? I want to be able to turn it around.
Beautiful post! I listen to Casting Crowns, Mercy Me & a few other groups as I clean. I helps me see the rhythm of cleaning my home as a time of praising God for His abundant gifts! Stopping by from FMF.
Those are some of my favorite bands, too, Mary! And I agree that it does make a difference. Thanks for sharing.
I loved when you wrote:
“But if Jesus is my heartbeat and praise is my breath, the rhythms of my work and play are my worship. To see him in the vibrations of my Friday, my everyday, is to bring him pleasure.”
It’s almost like poetry for the soul Lisa. Beautiful five minute Friday post.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Thanks, Debbie. I don’t do these FMF very often, but I always love to read what they bring out in everyone. Sometimes a similar theme; sometimes something different for everybody.
Hope you’re having a great Arizona weekend!
Wow Lisa…this really hit home for me and using the word rhythm was powerful.
Glad this hit home with you too, Nikki. It’s so much easier to stay connected with our purpose when we get into rhythm with God.
Lisa- Your thoughts on rhythm take on new meaning as you turn our hearts toward worship in the dailyness of life…need that reminder today. thanks!
I’m glad this ministered to you, Kel. Sometimes it’s the simplest things we need reminding of.
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