One of the most DAUNTING tasks of my cleaning "routine" is conquering the bathroom. I can't tell you how much I dislike cleaning that place. Granted, our bathroom never reaches the point of utter disgust, but it's usually nothing close to the image I want it to be if unannounced company shows up. To illustrate even further for you how ashamed I can be of our restroom, I will sometimes even tell people we're too busy to have them over, just so that I don't have to clean the bathroom or so they won't see it in its current condition.
It wasn't until last week that I decided to commit my restroom-cleaning issues to the Lord. YES, it's something I actually had to give to him because I realized I can't do such a comparatively simple thing by myself!
One of my quiet times last week went something like this...."God, I am ashamed of this silly thing, but will you PLEASE give me the STRENGTH and JOY that I need to finish the bathroom today? I want to commit to cleaning this place in the house every Tuesday, regardless of what else I accomplish. And I know I can only do this with your help."
Tuesdays are the most free day I have out of the week. My school week starts on Tuesdays and ends on Mondays, and since I have the option of which days I do school work, I usually take Tuesdays off. Therefore, I have NO EXCUSE to clean the bathroom on Tuesdays!
So this past Tuesday, I set about cleaning the bathroom with some praise music on to get my mind focused on Christ. And lo and behold, I had a blessed time in the bathroom that day! Instead of being that awful mountain of a task it usually is, the hour and a half spent scrubbing, disinfecting, and beautifying became a conversation between me and my King. Now I have a refreshingly clean and sparkling place to get ready in the morning!
Focus your thoughts on Him and He will faithfully lead you to accomplish whatever it is you normally put off. Don't procrastinate. Whatever that thing is in your life that you just can't seem to be faithful in doing as unto the Lord, commit it to Him in prayer.
A few things I've found to be helpful when procrastinating or when doing something with a bad attitude are below:
*Write it down in your calendar
*Before starting the task, have your quiet time with God and seriously commit it to Him in prayer
*Don't let yourself do ANYTHING else that day until it's accomplished (aside from your time with God, of course)
*Tell your husband or a friend to call you and hold you accountable (however great or small the thing is!)
*Play some of your favorite motivating music in the background while doing that thing
*Memorize a verse that applies to your struggle
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working
for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you
will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
Colossians 3:23-24
