liturgy of the ordinary

More often than not, each day is filled with the same set of tasks. I take on an identity for the day, whether that be sister, friend, or daughter… I brush my teeth. I make the bed. I eat. I talk. I work. I read my Bible. I sleep. Day after day. Routine after routine. Almost each day is the same. A life in the mundane. 

For the past few months, I have struggled with that life. A life filled with seemingly unimportant tasks that do not seem to align with my purpose in Christ. I remember thinking, “Where on earth is the joy and spark for life? What is the purpose in doing all of these little things?” It truly was a time where I felt like I was living a double life. I wanted to spend time in worship… but I had to go do the dishes. I wanted to spend time reading the Word… but I had to go to class and do my homework. I wanted to go spend time with my small group… but I had to take care of the laundry and study. If I was living my life for Jesus, why did I have to do all of these day to day things that I - in all honesty -  just did not care about? How were each of these seemingly mundane tasks aiding me in my purpose of furthering God’s kingdom and glorifying Him? How on EARTH can I glorify the Lord in brushing my teeth? 

I’ve come to find out that my minty breath will be a taste of His glory. (you’ll see what I mean). 

I wanted the Lord to be completely suffused in every aspect of my life, yet I was only worshiping Him in the thirty minutes to an hour that I gave Him a day. I was only praying to Him in the parts of my day that I carved out to spend time with Him. I put God into the in between times of routines that I had created for myself. How completely and utterly damaging that was to my relationship with Jesus. Because I had put the Lord into a slot in my schedule, it made the time that I did spend with Him feel like a chore. It made it feel boring, and just like every other task that I had done that day…. (that is not good). 

As I began to combat this feeling of boredom in everyday life and this feeling of a double life that I had, I sought the wisdom of my friend and mentor, Lauren, to help me understand why I was feeling this way. I wanted to see the Lord in everything. I did not want there to be a time that I wasn’t glorifying Him. I did not want there to be a set time that I spent with Jesus. I wanted all of my time to be spent with Jesus. I wanted to be in constant dialogue with Him. I wanted to be worshipful in the tedious tasks of everyday life. The parts of my life that were boring and the parts that were not. 

Lauren’s overall message: “A life with Jesus is not a life that has to be boring or a chore. A life with Jesus is a life that is suffused by His goodness, His grace, His joy, and His mercy. It is being worshipful, reflecting, and praising even in the mundane. It is seeing the Lord in the everyday tasks that you are responsible for, but choosing to glorify Him in all that you do. It is allowing Him to have full authority over the task at hand, all the while reminding yourself of His goodness, faithfulness, and love in moments that are seemingly lacking.” 

First off…. wow. Second off…. wow. 

Coming to the realization that to worship is a choice in mundane tasks was so eye opening. Coming to the realization that worship was more than just singing was so freeing. 

I am capable of being worshipful while I brush my teeth. I am capable of being worshipful while making my bed. Or doing homework. Or doing dishes. Or laundry. It brought me back to life. 

Worship(ful) - adj. Feeling or showing reverence or adoration. 

The Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Warren was the book that Lauren recommended me to read in conjunction with my daily Bible reading. The book takes the perspective of a Christian longing to be worshipful and glorifying the Lord in the moments where He would otherwise be “absent”. This book has altered my perspective on how to be worshipful in the mundane moments of life, ultimately changing how I walked and talked with the Lord. 

A particular position of my life that I struggle with is the identity that I don each day. A sister, a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend, a worship leader, a small group leader, a musician… each identity is filled to the brim with expectation. However, in our day to day identity, we are marked by God; and I believe Warren says it best-

“We are marked from our first waking moment by an identity that is given to us by grace: an identity that is deeper and more real than any other identity that we don that day. [...] God’s sleepy, smelly beloved.” (Warren, 20)

Each morning, I rise, fully known and fully loved by my Creator. Fully redeemed. Fully covered by the shadow of the cross. The lover of my soul placed air inside my lungs, and I awoke. Groggy; yet, my breath alone is an indicator that He is not done with me. That His work for me in this temporary home is not finished. My work remains. The identity that I take on that day is His beloved. His child. His servant. Before anything else, I am His. Meditating on WHOSE I am, rather than who I am. 

In making my bed, I focus on the creation of the world and resting with the Lord. God began with chaos; yet created the beautiful world that we see around us with the intention that we would delight in it. How selfless it is for God, the King of Kings, to intricately knit the world together so that I may rejoice in it. Seeing Him fully in the creation. As I make my bed, I reflect on the creation of the world and the intention behind it. The smile God must have had on His face when picking the colors of the flowers. The joy in creating dolphins or butterflies with the hope that I too would see their beauty. In these moments, seemingly mundane, I am able to meet with the Lord, resting in the tangible tranquility of His presence. 

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.” Romans 1:20

As I walk throughout my day, I hear the birds chirp. I hear the wind rustle. I hear the water run. I hear my sister’s laughter. I hear guitars strumming. I hear the typing of keys as assignments are submitted. I see the colors of the flowers. I feel the fur of my cat, Willow. I feel the warmth of the sun. I run. I jump. I skip. I walk. I dance. I sing. I taste and see that the Lord is Good. (Psalm 34)

“Because of the embodied work of Jesus, my body is destined for redemption and for eternal worship- for eternal skipping and jumping and twirling and hand raising and kneeling and dancing and singing and chewing and tasting” (Warren, 48).

Resting in these moments, all of which seemingly mean nothing, the Lord touches my heart. He touches my mind, reminding me of my identity. Reminding me of His faithfulness. He reminds me of His presence in each season (whether or not I felt Him). He reminds me that He is more than just a feeling. He reminds me that I can take refuge in Him during moments of anxiety. He reminds me that I am His. When I reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord- especially in the mundane moments- I am being worshipful. These communal practices allow me to be worshipful in the ordinary moments, focusing on my creator. The habits that are formed, make up this liturgy. This liturgy of the ordinary. A life marked by God.

My relationship with Jesus, in this ordinary liturgy and habitual practices, have allowed Jesus to occupy more than a singular timeslot in my day. A constant dialogue of whispers. A constant prayer. A constant remembrance. A constant sense of gratitude for the Man from Galilee. A God so worthy of our praises. The Carpenter sent to save both you and I no longer feels like a chore. The ordinary no longer feels ordinary. There is a newfound sense of reverence and awe. A newfound bowing to His name. 

To fully praise Jesus, it would take all of eternity. But starting in the moments where my hair is unkempt. When I would like to stay in bed. When my teeth are unbrushed. When I am in my most vulnerable state, is when my most vulnerable and authentic worship and prayer arises. And angels join in their endless praises.

A life in the mundane. 

A life marked by God. 

A life that’s good. 

Revolving Disc:

Back To Life - Bethel

Jesus is My Healer - Gateway Worship

Tune - Abbie Gamboa/UPPERROOM

Good Shepherd - UPPERROOM

So Worthy - Gateway Worship

Completely Abandoned - Gateway Worship

I Just Love You - Gateway Worship

Cover The Earth - Kari Jobe/Cody Carnes

T-U-G - Austin Alford

Alleluia - Jesus Culture