COMBINING PRAYER AND CLEANING IN YOUR HOME

After another busy weekend filled with errands, events, and fun, I looked around a home that needed much love. With two kids and a cat named Jinx, things can easily get out-of-order. I use early Monday mornings as my time to clean and get things back in order for the week. I also use it as a special time to walk through our home and pray over each room.

There is no true protocol to prayer. Whether I’m seated, eyes closed, with hands pressed together, OR a broom in hand sweeping up cat hair, crumbs, dust, and whatever else is hiding on our wood floors, the result is the same. I’m communicating with God.  I’m thanking Him for His blessings, asking for His presence to be strong in our home, and that He would provide our home with His protection and blessings. I do this once a week with serious intention. For me it’s always Monday mornings, because I feel a peace and comfort wash over me knowing that I have handed my home over to Him at the beginning of every week.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

Proverbs 24:3-4

Below you will find the verses that come to my mind and what I pray as I move room to room, sweeping, dusting, picking up and organizing. I can’t clean without music playing. Playing my favorite worship songs while cleaning also helps add to the atmosphere. Singing, praising, praying and cleaning, the end result is a clean home that is protected, blessed, and filled with His presence!

Understandably every home is a bit different, the prayers and verses that work for mine, may not be the same ones that work for you. But the idea is the point. Reaching out to God and inviting Him in, saturating our homes with scriptures and prayers, that in turn will bring in the things we desire the most for our families. Inviting in light and casting out darkness. Cleaning is something we all do anyways, but by adding prayer while we clean, we are performing spiritual warfare on our family’s behalf at the same time.

Foyer/Sitting Room: This is the room that everyone enters into when coming into our home. It’s where shoes are tossed, coats are hung, and backpacks stored.

When I’m cleaning this room I often think of two verses.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Matthew 25:35

I pray that each person coming through our front door would feel welcomed in our home. That the atmosphere would be one of comfort and joy. A place were people would want to come and gather. I also pray that each time my family leaves through the front door that they would be protected and return home safely.  As I straighten shoes and hang coats I’m reminded to say thank you, because I know that we are blessed to have them, there are those that don’t.

Dinning Room: Hanging on the focal wall in our dinning room is a large framed chalkboard, made out of an old chalkboard and a re-purposed frame. I’m that girl, I’m not ashamed to admit I’ll reuse someone’s garbage any day… I love to make old things new again. On the chalk board is a prayer, one you may have seen before.

God bless the food before us, the family beside us, and the love between us. Amen.

As I sweep, dust, straighten the table-cloth, and the center piece I think about that little prayer. So simple, but everything I need God to hear. So I simply pray thankfulness. I am thankful for the meals we have shared around this table. I am thankful for my husband, I am thankful for my daughters, and I am thankful for the love that is shared when we gather in this room. When we sit down to enjoy supper together, stories of the day are shared, life lessons taught, and memories made. There are no distractions, time seems to slow, and laughter fills the room. It is a place where meaningful conversations transpire and family bonds are strengthened.

I pray for God’s presence to always be strong in this room, which also serves as our homework area. My youngest and I sit down to practice spelling words, reading, and writing, while my oldest can be found multiplying and dividing decimals and studying for her academic team.  This verse comes to mind often as I straighten a basket that holds homework necessities such as pencils, crayons, and glue.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 3: 13-15

I pray that God always fills my girls with wisdom and knowledge beyond their understanding, and that He has a plan for them greater than anything we can imagine. If it starts with them studying in the dinning room then I pray it in that room.

The Kitchen: This is the heart of my home and my favorite room. I enjoy baking, but not cooking. Though thanks to Pinterst recipes I’m getting better! As I wipe down counters and appliances I can’t help but feel blessed. God has always provided for us, from the food in the pantry, to the fridge full of goodies, He has never once left us hungry. I am thankful for the moments when I get to spend time with my husband helping him prepare dinner. I am thankful for the time I get to spend baking with my girls. As I clean our stove and our fridge I am reminded of how far my husband and I have come in the past four years. There was a time when I prayed for these simple items because our home did not have them (another story for a different day). I prayed for both, and God provided. I am reminded as I wipe down white cabinets and sweep red rugs how blessed I am to have a home that I love. A home that I am proud of and I’m so thankful for a place to raise my family. My heart is filled with gratitude and I make sure God knows it, and I pray that this kitchen will be used to prepare years and years worth of meals to come for my family and friends.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:10

BUT let us always remember,

Jesus answered  “It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Matthew 4:4

The Living Room: So many verses come to my mind as I straighten throw pillows, dust the coffee table, end tables, way too many built-in shelves, and sweep another wood floor. Our living room is one of shabby comfort, I’d like it to be shabby chic, but that isn’t in the budget yet. Instead it’s one of comfort, coziness, warmth, and peace. I can feel the presence of love just walking into it. I believe this is because Corinthians 13: 4-7, John 4:19, and Isaiah 2:18 have been prayed over it abundantly.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Corinthians 13:4-7

We love because he first loved us.

John 4:19

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32:18

This is the room that we gather in every evening and weekend. Where movie nights, game nights, and just everyday living takes place. This is the room we entertain our guest. Where my youngest plays doll house and my oldest can be found reading…or on her tablet. This is the room where we sing, dance, color, and minecraft adventures take place. It is where I study and write. We have only lived in this house two years, but it already holds so many precious memories I never want to forget.

I want this room to be blessed by the Lord, it’s that simple. I pray that He will fill the atmosphere and surround us with love, peace, comfort, joy, and happiness. I pray that our relationships will grow stronger and stronger as we hang out in this room. I pray that good memories are made. I also pray that instilled in my children is the foundation of what a family who serves the Lord resembles, and deep conversations take place about our faith, even at young ages.

The Laundry Room: I hate doing Laundry. I’ll just be honest it sucks. I’ll wash it, but folding, hanging, and putting it away is not my thing. Any given day of the week you’ll find several baskets of clean laundry sitting by the dryer begging to be done. I’m thankful that God has provided us with an abundance of clothing, and while my pre-teen is certain she has nothing to wear… I know that we are blessed. I often think of the people who don’t have their basic needs met, living in common wealth Kentucky it’s not uncommon to see that the struggle can be very real for others. I do not take it for granted that we are blessed. I pray thankfulness in this room, and then walk out and shut the door. If I can’t see it, I’m okay with it not being done!

Bedrooms: I no longer clean by daughters rooms. They are old enough to handle the responsibility themselves. I do however stop by to pray over them. It’s been a habit of mine for some time, in fact long before I started praying over the other rooms in my home, I prayed in theirs each morning after they left for school. I’m sure I’m not the only mama that has anxiety, fear, and worry about the world we are raising children. I pray to God that a hedge of protection is placed around them that darkness and evil can not penetrate. I pray that they have wisdom and knowledge far beyond their understanding, and that He would bless the paths they travel, keeping them on the straight and narrow one. I pray that they would be so filled with the light of Jesus that it shines brightly through them. I also pray that He would lead and guide me so I would always be enough for them. Over the years they have run into little problems in their lives, in which I’ll insert on their behalf.  I have no idea what tomorrow holds, no one does. But I know as long as they call these rooms theirs, that I will be praying for them, in them, because as their mama it’s my responsibility. The verses that come to mind while I’m in these rooms vary, but here are just a few.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

Philippians 4:13 (so they would have strength)

Have I not commanded you? be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go

Joshua 1:9 (so they would have strength and courage)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God

Philippians 4:6 (so they would have peace)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “honor you father and mother” Which is the first commandment with a promise

Ephesians 6: 1-2 (so they would have obedience)

Master Bedroom: As I clean this room, making the bed, dusting, and sweeping I pray thankfulness for my husband, I’m blessed to have him, he’s pretty awesome. I also pray for our marriage, that it would remain strong, and be protected. I pray for love in this room, always, forever, and never-ending. I pray that I can be the wife he needs, and the wife God wants me to be. I often think of following verses in this room:

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Mark 10:9

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Ephesians 5:21 (The Lord knows I need help with this one!)

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:10

” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Hebrews 10: 24-25 ( So we will always be encouraging to one another)

I know that every home has different needs, and families come in all shapes and sizes. I hope the above gives you a good example of what praying and cleaning can look like. Neither concept is new obviously, but by combining the two we can have a positive impact on our homes.

Not only will our homes become physically clean, but spiritually empowered.

I truly believe that no matter what form our prayers take place in, it’s the power of prayer alone that influence our lives.

Praying and cleaning your way through your home will cultivate the environment you desire most.

I don’t think that there is any right or wrong way to do something like this, the frequency and duration will completely be based on your lifestyle. I encourage you to find scriptures that tug on your heart and fulfill your desires for your own home and then see where God leads you the next time you begin to clean your home.

Multitasking with the ultimate out come!

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