Lesson 6: Do the dang dishes.
While it is very important to do your own dishes, especially when living in community without a dishwasher like we have been every month, plates and bowls are not what I’m referring to here. The “dishes” I am talking about are the little things, the disciplines, the small, menial tasks that are easy to neglect, that no one wants to do, but are simply necessary for life to function properly and healthily. Someone has to do the dishes or you run out of them and find yourselves eating off the floor – and that’s just not okay.
When I look at my life of volleyball or art, it’s easy to see that discipline in the smallest of things are CRUCIAL, and typically always worth the sacrifice. But, the fruit of my labor is often harder to see and believe in in my spiritual life.
This year, some of my dishes have been: time of solitude, prayer (both talking and listening to God), asking for accountability, praising God, confessing jealousy and sin, reading the Word, and journaling about the things the Lord is teaching me. Similarly to doing actual dishes, many times I don’t mind doing them – sometimes I really want to – but other times I avoid them impressively hard. I truly want to do these spiritual dishes. I usually love talking to God, listening to Him, thanking Him for everything I can think of and reading His Word, but at times, each of these things feel like annoying, unproductive chores I am obligated to do in order to upkeep my faith or be a “good Christian”. It’s easy to get complacent, discouraged, and wonder or doubt if any of this matters, if it is doing anything, or if it is worth it. I want to encourage you that it is. Every bit of it!
The good Lord wastes nothing, and He promises us that what we reap we will also sow: Galatians 6:6-9 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Here are some spiritual dishes the Lord has revealed to me that we need to believe are worth doing and do if we want to be effective, growing Jesus-followers:
Prayer: Prayer changes things. It changes you, and it changes the world. I encourage you to believe that and get on your knees for the things you desire and the things God desires whether you think it will change anything or not.
James 5:15 “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call on me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Psalm 38:15 “I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God.”
Consuming the Word: You need the Word to live, grow, be filled, obey, be victorious and ready yourself for what God has in store for you. Believe that and consume the Word, daily, whether you feel like it or not. I mean the Word of God – the Bible, the written Word, Jesus who is the living Word, and the Holy Spirit who speaks God’s words to us individually.
Deuteronomy 8:3 “…man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Ephesians 6:10-12, 17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places… and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”
Confession: Confession and vulnerability lead to healing and freedom. Believe that and confess your sins, struggles, hurts, and beliefs that are contrary to truth..
James 5:16 “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”
Psalm 66:18-19 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.”
Giving thanks: God deserves our praise, and thanking Him for all He has done and all He is helps us know we are loved, cared for and taken care of by God. Acknowledging His goodness and faithfulness allows us to relate to Him rightly and live confidently and abundantly. Believe that and start exercising gratitude whether you feel blessed or cursed, whether you think you’re living in abundance or poverty.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Ephesians 5:18-20 “Do not get drunk on wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will provide every need of yours according to his according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
James 1:17 “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”
Nearly every Psalm: “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! He is worthy to be praised!”
Obedience: Friendship with God, blessing, joy and reward will come to those who obey God and His commands. Believe that and obey what He is telling you to do whether or not you understand or agree. He is God; we are not.
James 1:22,25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… But the one who looks in the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed.”
Romans 2:6-8 “God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”
My fav: John 15:10-11, 14-15 “If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full… You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called your friends, for all I heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
Whether it is seemingly small spiritual disciplines or something larger you feel God has asked you to do, you must know and believe that the reward is worth the cost. God will never ask something of you that isn’t worth what He is asking you to sacrifice to do it. You must decide and believe ahead of time that the pain, embarrassment, sweat, boredom or whatever it may be is worth the fruit, joy, freedom, and reward to come. Then, you will have the endurance and strength to do anything He asks of you. It starts with the small things. He who is faithful with little can be trusted with much.
If you are interested in learning more about spiritual disciplines, I think Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster is a super duper good book with an incredible perspective of discipline!
God, thanks for this word. Show us what dishes have been neglected and need some cleaning. Show us what dishes we are good at cleaning that you wanna give us a high five for. For the dishes I’ve personally avoided all day, all week, all month… thanks for the promise that I will reap what I sow and that it will be worth it. I trust you and your word, God. Instill this truth in our spirits. Thanks God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
