Faith for the Ordinary
Dear St. Andrew's UM Church Family,
Last week, I found myself standing at the kitchen sink, washing dishes after dinner. It was nothing special—just the usual stack of plates, some stubborn pots, and that one spatula that always seems to need extra scrubbing. As I worked, my mind wandered to the sermon I was preparing, and I caught myself thinking, "I'll get to real ministry once these chores are done."
And then it hit me: How often do we separate our "ordinary" lives from what we consider "spiritual" activities? We compartmentalize—worship on Sunday, "regular life" the rest of the week. But what if the most amazing spiritual moments aren't just found in dramatic revelations or mountain-top experiences, but in these everyday moments of service, patience, and faithfulness?
In Matthew 6:11, Jesus teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." Not our monthly bread, not our special-occasion bread, but our daily bread. Jesus understood that faith is lived out in the rhythms of ordinary days, in the meeting of basic needs, in the small choices we make when nobody's watching.
I'm reminded of Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk who found deep communion with God while washing dishes in the monastery kitchen. "The time of business," he wrote, "does not differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees."
Paul echoes this in Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Notice he doesn't say, "Whatever spiritual activities you do..." but simply, "Whatever you do." The scope is comprehensive—including changing diapers, answering emails, mowing lawns, and yes, washing dishes.
This isn't to diminish the importance of intentional spiritual practices like worship, prayer, and Scripture reading. Rather, it's an invitation to expand our understanding of where God can be found. Romans 12:1 calls us to offer our bodies "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Our entire lives become an act of worship when lived in conscious connection to God.
So how might we practice this "ordinary faith" more intentionally?
- Start your workday with a simple prayer: "Lord, help me see this work as service to you."
- Create "spiritual pauses" in your day—brief moments to breathe and remember God's presence while waiting at stoplights or standing in line.
- Look for the sacred in interruptions - When your plans get derailed by a neighbor's need or a child's question, ask: "Could this be where God wants me right now?"
- Practice gratitude for ordinary blessings—running water, electricity, a comfortable bed—things we often take for granted.
Sometimes I think we're waiting for God to call us to some grand mission, when perhaps the holiest thing we can do is to love our family well, to work with integrity, to show kindness to the cashier, and to steward our ordinary days with faithfulness.
Jesus, after all, spent 30 years in the ordinary routines of family life and carpentry before his public ministry began. Those weren't "wasted years"—they were part of his incarnational purpose, sanctifying the everyday experiences we all share.
As May unfolds with its routine rhythms, I challenge us all to look for God in the ordinary. The daily commute. The grocery shopping. The laundry folding. The committee meeting. Where might God be present, speaking, working, and transforming in these moments?
May we find Him faithful—not just in the extraordinary—but in the beautiful ordinary of daily bread and daily grace.
Walking with you in the everyday,
Pastor Brian
P.S. I'd love to hear where you've encountered God in unexpected, ordinary moments. Drop me an email, send me a text, or stop by the office to share your story!
Rev. Brian Lucas, Pastor | blucas@susumc.org
Be sure to check out this article in our full newsletter from May 2025 - Click Here!
