Worship while you work

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men … It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

— Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

A maid carefully stretches the corner of the sheet to fit the bare mattress. As she does, she says a small prayer for the safety and salvation of the next person that sleeps there.

As the carpenter swings his mighty hammer and hits the nail on the head, he takes pride in doing his part to make a house for someone who might otherwise be homeless.

A young mother patiently spends another day of changing diapers and doing laundry with a warmth in her heart that she is able to contribute to the well-being of family.

These people hold the common bond of enjoying their daily tasks. By doing their work with an attitude to make a difference, they are honoring God. Many think that worship is only when we are doing an activity that is spiritual, such as reading our Bible and praying, and singing hymns at church.

I had a friend tell me that she could see my work of writing devotions for God as a form of worship, but didn’t connect how her task of washing dishes and cooking meals could contribute as worship.

Our daily activities, unless it is sinful, can be done for God’s pleasure. We forget that God is concerned about the practical side of our lives, too. We grow spiritually so that it flows into the practical things we do on a daily basis and enjoy our life the way God intended for us.

When we wash our dishes, repair a car or plant a garden with an attitude of praise, it pleases God. God is the one who created us with the gifts and abilities we possess.

As unpleasant as our tasks may seem at times, a change of heart could make a difference in the way we enjoy each day. Think how happy and productive we could be, and how much it would please God. if we worshiped while we worked.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.