Where is God in the Mundane?

“So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.”
~1 Corinthians 10:31

Where is God in the mundane?

What’s your favorite hobby? Maybe you’re a reader, or a writer, or a listener. Maybe you puzzle, or binge-watch shows on Netflix, or knit. Maybe you’re an artist, the musical or the designer kind. Or, if you’re anything like me, maybe you enjoy long walks and listening to podcasts. Whatever it is, take a minute and ask, what do I enjoy most about this activity? Does it make me laugh? Do I appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes with it? But most of all, does it draw me closer to God?

God delights in joining us in our everyday tasks. In fact, He longs to be included. Whether we are preparing dinner for our family, mowing the grass, or scrubbing the toilet, everything we do can be considered an act of worship if we invite God into it. As believers in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has promised us the Holy Spirit, which lives inside us and follows us wherever we go. Therefore, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, God’s presence is always there. God designed our spirits to long communication with Him throughout our days, not just at church on Sunday mornings or during our quiet time at night.

Today, the term “worship” is often equated to singing a spiritual song in church on Sunday morning, but less often used in the context of the mundane. In fact, the word encompasses a wide span of activities that happen on every day of the week. There is no one-size-fits-all design for worship and it can even vary significantly from believer to believer. In the book The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren highlights nine types of people and how they draw close to God. He writes:

1. Naturalists are most inspired to love God out-of-doors, in natural settings.
2. Sensates love God with their senses and appreciate beautiful worship services that involve their sight, taste, smell, and touch, not just their ears.
3. Traditionalists draw closer to God through rituals, liturgies, symbols, and unchanging structures.
4. Ascetics prefer to love God in solitude and simplicity.
5. Activists love God through confronting evil, battling injustice, and working to make the world a better place.
6. Caregivers love God by loving others and meeting their needs.
7. Enthusiasts love God through celebration.
8. Contemplatives love God through adoration.
9. Intellectuals love God by studying with their minds.

I love the diversity of this list, but even more so, I love that we are not defined as one type of worshiper. I am a naturalist, a sensate, an activist, and a caregiver. But I am also an intellectual and an ascetic at times. Some days it’s easier for me to find God in the beauty of Creation and others I see Him more clearly in fostering friendships or speaking about injustice. God doesn’t ask us to worship in a specific way or at a specific place, He just wants us to delight in who He is, and above all else, do it from a place of pure love. I encourage you to invite God into every aspect of your life – both inside and outside church walls. Invite Him into every task, every chore, every item on your to-do list, and find joy in the many opportunities you have to worship your loving Father. Even your mundane matters to God.

What areas of your life can you invite God to be a larger part of? How will you find new ways to worship the Lord this week?