A Prayer for the Ordinary Days
Mondays were the hardest for me when my children were little. The weekend was usually spent having fun, relaxing, and resting. Sundays were busy with two church services and little time for anything but a long lunch and quick nap before going back for evening service. We would then hurry home, go to bed, and start our week.
Mondays were spent getting ready for the week and back to the routine. The only problem was, each Monday was the same. I was homeschooling and didn’t get out much otherwise. So each Monday I would start to feel this pull toward despair. The questions (from the enemy) would seep into my thinking….
…none of this matters.
…you are just spinning your wheels.
….your life is on hold until these children grow.
…no one ever thanks you.
…no one ever sees all of the hard work.
I began to think and believe these lies were true because I would get frustrated with dirty diapers, cleaning up messes, and crumbs on the floor. I started wearing socks in the house because I hated that there were always crumbs on the floor!
During those long days, I clung to God’s Word. I would sit and read the Bible in between school and afternoons with cartoons. Filling out my study was just another item on my checklist, but God used that intentional time to grow in me a beautiful thing: rest.
Rest grew from those ordinary days because over the days, weeks, and years I poured into God’s Word I’ve now, fifteen years later, feel that peace and joy that only comes from Him. Before you think I’m this great person, I must admit that I only did the Bible studies because I was leading the Bible studies! For seven years I had women over to my house on a biweekly schedule to talk about Bible study. I was the leader, so I felt the push to have the lessons done!
Those years, spent in chaos, crumbs, and crushing monotony were just planting seasons. Seeds after seeds of truth were being planted in my heart. Friend, I have yet to reap the full benefits of those seeds. There is more growing happening underneath, I know it.
A Prayer for the Ordinary Days
So this is your prayer, I’ve written out, that you can pray if you feel stuck in the horrible boring mess that sometimes fills our days.
Dear Father,
Thank you for this glorious ordinary life. I’ll admit that on some days I wish I lived a different life. Help me today to embrace this ordinary life because deep down, it is not ordinary. It is glorious to think that you are planting seeds in my life even now. I am learning lessons from the crumbs and chaos. Help keep my heart attuned to you and your word.
Help me see the Bible as the most important investment I can make in my day! Even before child-rearing and a clean house, spending time with you and in your word is more beneficial to my life. Help remind me that I will be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend if I seek you first.
Nothing I do is hidden from you. You rejoice over me and love me with a steadfast love, no matter my performance (or lack thereof). I give you praise and glory and honor because even the Most High God is a Good Shepherd who guides, leads, and loves me. Amen.
Take this prayer and remember:
Your ordinary is glorious in the hands of God.
