Some days it can be hard to find the motivation you need to clean up a messy house. The Bible tells us that the Proverbs 31 woman works willingly with her hands. But sometimes that seems easier said than done! That’s why today I’m sharing some of my best tips for how to get motivated to clean the house when you feel tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed.
Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge: Day 4
This 21 Day Proverbs 31 Prayer Challenge is based on my post: Praying through Proverbs 31.
Today’s prayer challenge: Proverbs 31:13
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Lord, let my hands grasp that which is sacred and holy and good. Help me to let go of those things that aren’t good for me.
Make my hands willing to do the tasks before me. Help me to work with a cheerful heart and joy in my heart. Keep my lips from grumbling and complaining about the work I need to do. (Philippians 2:14)
Amen.
She is industrious.
We read in Proverbs 31 that the virtuous woman works willingly with her hands. This verse has more to do with her attitude regarding work that it is so much about her tasks.
Remember, being a modern Proverbs 31 woman has nothing to do with living up to a perfect ideal. It’s truly about allowing a perfect Christ to live in and through you.
So how can Christ live through you in your daily tasks? Our lives are lived in the ordinary moments of ordinary days. Yes, we have those big exciting events that occur, but the majority of our lives are spent in the ordinary moments.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” Colossians 3:23
The work you do each day is done not only for you and your family, it’s done for Christ. Homemaking is a ministry in every sense of the word.
The word minister means: to attend to the needs of someone
Who attends better to the needs of the family than the homemaker? It’s time we elevate the role of the homemaker. The work you do inside your home matters.
The daily tasks that homemaking present can feel like mundane drudgery. It can feel like housekeeping is a never ending list of chores – and truth be told, housekeeping chores eventually come around again at some point – whether it be daily, weekly, or yearly.
I read this idea a years ago, over at Dana from A Slob Comes Clean and it’s stuck with me ever since about how “All housekeeping points expire at midnight.” In other words, just because you kept the house clean yesterday doesn’t mean you get a pass today. The points expired at midnight.
All housekeeping points expire at midnight.
Dana, A Slob Comes Clean
Have you ever had something like this go through your mind:
- But I just cleaned the bathroom last week!
- Ugh, I just cleaned the kitchen.
- I just mopped – like, last Monday. There’s no way the floor could possibly need to be mopped again this week.
The reason it resonated with me is because I could relate.
That’s the problem with housekeeping. It is a never ending job. And so often it feels like drudgery.
But should it feel like drudgery?
I’m not judging anyone here. I often feel like housework is drudgery. I like the fun stuff – like decorating and cooking and taking care of the pets.
Maybe your list of fun chores is different. That’s okay.
The Key to Keeping a Clean House
The key to maintaining a clean house is just that – maintenance.
main·te·nance ˈmānt(ə)nəns,ˈmāntn-əns/noun: maintenance the process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained.
Should you really have to clean every day/week? I know it can be hard to get motivated to clean the house every single day. And the truth is, you don’t need to do deep cleaning every day. Some days you can just maintain – you know, pick up clutter, keep the kitchen tidy, tidy the bathroom.
Houses don’t clean themselves. If you want a clean or relatively neat home most of the time, you will have to spend time maintaining your clean house.
In other words, don’t wait until the house is a disaster to clean it. Spend time each day straightening, cleaning, and de-cluttering.
Now, obviously, not all days {or weeks even} go the way you plan. Some weeks are totally crazy and you’ll have to spend a day getting the house back in order.
If you struggle with your attitude when it comes to cleaning the house, the only way it will change is if you make an effort to change. Pray about it every day!
I love having a clean house, but I would really rather be writing, or hanging out with my kids or reading a good book.
If I’m feeling discouraged, I will spend a little time reading some of my favorite organizing or homemaking blogs. It works for me.
The Ministry of Homemaking
When I was thinking about this post and what I felt led to write about, Titus 2:5 came to mind. You’ve probably read it before.
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5
God has called me to the ministry of homemaking. He has called you to the ministry of homemaking.
You and your family will be happier, have less stress, and you’ll feel good about having friends, family, and even the Pastor drop in to visit, if you spend time each day maintaining a clean house. A tidy house is easier to clean than a messy house.
related: Housekeeping Rules to Live By
Maintenance is the key to happy homemaking. Remember, a mixing bowl only takes seconds to wash if you do it as soon as the batter is in the baking dish. A floor is easier mop if there isn’t several weeks of crusted dried food and grime stuck it. The table top is easier to clean if you do it everyday and keep the clutter from piling up.
Your family deserves a neat home. Notice I did not say perfect. Perfection is not required.
You minister to your family every time you perform an act of service at home whether it be swishing the toilet, cooking a meal, washing the dishes or laundry, dusting, or lighting a candle.
How to Get Motivated to Clean the House
There are several reasons why you may feel unmotivated to clean the house. Let’s look at some of those reasons and their respective remedies.
- You’re tired. If you’re feeling exhausted, cleaning a messy house can feel every more overwhelming. Make a committment to go to bed early so you feel refreshed before you start.
- You’re overwhelmed. If you’re house is really out of control, you might feel paralyzed not knowing where to start. Read my post: How to Clean when You feel Overwhelmed.
- You’re discouraged. If you’re struggling in a bad marriage, have difficult relationships, or or life in general feels harder than it should be, cleaning can be very mentally and emotionally taxing. Get extra sleep, drink lots of water, and just do one thing.
- You’re depressed. Mental health is so important and affects our homes in so many ways. Determine whether your depression is something that needs professional health. If not, try to do something that makes you happy and then get to work. Clutter and depression often go hand in hand. Whatever the reason, God knows and He is there to help.
- You’re too busy. Or think you’re too busy. Try to simplify your day and give yourself time to get busy cleaning.
- You have little kids. Create routine and make sure you have a dedicated “pick up time” each day when everything is put away for the day. Children thrive on routines.
10 Ways to Get Motivated to Clean the House
- Pray! Ask God for the motivation to get your tasks done.
- Read your favorite homemaking blogs. Here are a few of mine.
- Turn on your favorite music. I always listen to Paul Cardall when I’m cleaning the house.
- Set a timer and work as hard and fast as you can until the timer goes off.
- Ask a friend to come over and help. Or ask your husband.
- Give your kids a list of chores to do. Follow up and make sure they did them correctly.
- Invite people over. This is a great way to get motivated to clean!! You should always plan to have people over on a regular basis.
- Watch an episode of your favorite decluttering show.
- Watch some YouTube videos of people’s cleaning and homemaking routines.
- Make a plan to reward yourself with something small when you are done.
Bible Verses to Help You Get Motivated to Clean the House
- Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23
- Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
- Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14,15
- So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
- And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12
- And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
- And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
- Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:24
- She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27
- You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2
Action Steps to Take Today
- Pray about your attitude regarding housekeeping.
- Write down any problems with your attitude that you feel are keeping you from reaching your goal of a neat home.
- Ask God to help you see how noble and precious each act of service at home is.
- Think about the ideas I shared on how to get motivated to clean the house. Which ones might work for you?
- Download my free printable Quick Cleaning Checklist below, if desired.
Free Printable Quick Cleaning Checklist | Cleaning Flowchart
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