I was moving yet another load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and mumbling to myself about the fact that Mount Laundry never seemed to move no matter how many loads I did. Even if I did all of the laundry in the house, by nightfall there would be more.
I went upstairs to tackle the dishes. That led to the unending task of emptying the garbage under the sink, which meant running around the house and emptying all the rest of the garbage cans so the bag would be full. The bathroom garbage reminded me that the shower needed cleaning and the bedroom garbage reminded me that the bed needed to be changed. The laundry room garbage took me past gold old Mount Laundry again.
A full bag meant putting shoes on so I could take it outside. Putting my shoes on reminded me that the entranceway floor needed to be washed. Mumbling more, I headed back to the kitchen to actually wash the dishes I had set out to do.
By this point I had worked myself up into quite a state. I had a really good PITY PARTY happening. Old Misery and I were busy commiserating about how much needed to be done; how the tasks never ended; how much I hated what I call invisible work (all those things in life that as soon as you're done, need to be done again and the only time anyone actually notices is when they are not done); and on and on and on.
Where was my gratitude for the house; for the bathroom; for the dishes (which meant we had eaten); for the bedroom (which meant we had a warm place to sleep) and for the laundry (which meant we had clothes to wear)? OUCH!
Sometimes the enemy doesn't need to attack us with big temptations to derail us and take our focus off of God. Sometimes all he has to do is keep us in a routine of seemingly endless jobs.
Sometimes all it takes is something small and routine to get us into an attitude that warps our attitude.
Do you have an attitude of holiness when tackling the mundane?
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
"Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV
Do you give thanks for the rut?
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Do you do everything for the Lord?
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
I had failed all three measures of my work. I had some serious repenting to do.
Author Unknown