Dirty Laundry
Dirty Laundry
We’ve all been there, staring at the laundry basket piled high with clean clothes waiting to be folded and the hamper beginning to overflow with the dirty laundry we can’t wash until the clean clothes are put away and the laundry basket is empty once again. We desperately want the clothes to be hung or folded, tucked back in their designated spots, once again freeing up the chair in the corner. (Why does everyone seem to have this chair in their bedroom, anyway?)
But here’s the kicker. No matter how badly we long for the clean clothes to be put away and the dirty laundry washed, both piles continue to sit. We constantly find another task that’s more important, needs done sooner, or seems more entertaining. If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself prioritizing other tasks (seriously…any other task) to do instead of folding the clean clothes and washing the dirty ones. Maybe the dishwasher needed to be emptied, the dogs needed to go on a walk, or your mom called and chatted for over two hours. By now, most of the day is gone and you’re exhausted, so you take a “short rest” on the couch that turns into a marathon-style binge of the latest true crime documentary on Netflix. The motivation to have your laundry done is there, but the discipline to sit down and complete the task in a timely manner is severely lacking.
How often do we treat our daily quiet time the very same way? We are motivated to dive into the Word and spend time with Jesus but are desperately lacking the discipline to make it happen. Maybe the kids woke up earlier today and needed breakfast, the dog had an accident that needed cleaning and now you’re late for work, or maybe you were simply “too tired” and decided to snooze the alarm this morning instead of getting up and grabbing your Bible. We’ve all been there. We’ve all done it.
You see, we live in an “it can be done tomorrow” culture. It’s become far too easy to push tasks off until the next day, and the next day, and the next day. Before we know it, that laundry basket has been sitting in the corner for two weeks, and our Bible is starting to show the layer of dust gathering on its cover. When we allow life and earthly distractions to get in the way of our daily quiet time routine, our souls also begin to overflow with dirty laundry. We are more easily angered, constantly frustrated, low on patience, and find the stresses of life weighing heavily on our shoulders. We may often feel as though the world is closing in on us and nothing seems to be going the way we think it should. Unless we return to the basket to fold, hang, and put away the clean clothes, the dirty laundry will continue to pile up.
For some, all it takes is noticing that the socks and sweaters are starting to reach the brim of the hamper to get back on track. For others, it requires completely running out of underwear (those days are the worst, aren’t they?). No matter which you are, I have some suggestions for getting back into the Word and spending a little time each day with the Lord.
Remind Yourself Why
Sometimes, we simply need to be reminded why the task at hand is important. Whether it be folding clothes, or opening our Bible, we need to remember why the task is a priority. 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that, “all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (ESV). Reading our Bible is so much more than checking off a box each day on a reading plan. Opening the Word of God allows us to dive deeper into our relationship with Him and opens the door for Him to begin working in our hearts, preparing us for whatever lies ahead.
Make Your Quiet Time a Priority
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35 ESV). We will not all have the opportunity (or ability) to rise before the sun, our kids, or the workday ahead, to spend a silent hour of time with the Lord. However, we are reminded in Mark that Jesus made sure to prioritize time with his Father despite the day that lay ahead of him. Jesus traveled great distances, encountered droves of people, and was surely exhausted. Yet, he prioritized rising early to spend time alone in prayer before continuing with his daily tasks. If Jesus could be all that he was, and still have a daily quiet time, so can we.
I know that it’s easier to pick up your phone and mindlessly scroll through TikTok after being overstimulated all day, but I promise it’s worth every effort to crack open your Bible and read even one chapter. We are reminded in Romans 12:2 that we should not “conform to this world but be transformed by the renewal of [our] minds…” (ESV). Let’s fight against the grain of endless scrolling and Netflix binging. Let’s, instead, allow the Word of God begin to transform us from the inside out as we read (possibly with very heavy eyes) one chapter at a time.
Pray
Reconnect with the Lord in prayer. Bring your shortcomings and concerns to Him, and watch His grace and mercy cover you with the promise of new beginnings the next day. Author and creator of Wholehearted, Naomi Vacaro, offers a simple but beautiful prayer that we can offer to the Lord as we look to rededicate part of our day to Him. She prays,
“Dear Jesus, thank you for being a wholehearted God. Thank you for never stopping short in the love you give. I’m sorry for keeping parts of my life from you and for not trusting your complete goodness and love. I surrender myself to you and ask that you would do a transforming work in every aspect of my life. May I never stop reading the Bible and praying and may this habit overflow into the rest of my life. Thank you for your amazing grace and be with me as I walk the journey of following you. Amen.”
MEET THE AUTHOR
Morgan spends her days as a photographer and Colorado State 4-H Shooting Sports Program Assistant, yet her favorite roles are being a daughter, wife, and mother. You can often find her curled up on the couch with a good book and cup of tea, cuddling her two dogs, or spending time with family. A newly established student of the Bible, she loves spending time in the Word and developing her relationship with Jesus through prayer and worship. You can find her on instagram @msmorganjohnston