By Contributing Writer, Victoria
***Want to start praying over your home but don’t know where to begin? Use these Scripture based prayer prompts as a guide to help you get started. As a bonus, I also have a FREE Prayer Card Download below for you to print out, laminate and keep in your cleaning basket.**
Along with the arrival of the warm, new life, longer days and the gentle breezes of Spring, the urge to clean tags close behind.
Spring cleaning starts popping up in your Pinterest search box. Suddenly you, too, get the desire to scrub baseboards, purge the inside of deep closets, and walk through your home with a box with the aspiration of getting rid of all the stuff that isn’t nailed down.
It’s almost habitual, a Springtime ritual.
I suffer from a common allergy, that which I like to call allergic to cleaning (who’s with me?), and there are so many things I would much rather be doing, BUT at the same time, there is still a home we live in and it won’t clean itself.
However it never fails, come Spring I am overcome with motivation to clean and purge our home.
In the midst of this once-a-year-cleaning frenzy (don’t worry, I do clean year around), I also feel the urge to pray over my home as well.
I pray for my family everyday, but as I’m moving through my home room-by-room cleaning and purging away, I use that time to really pray over the rooms and for my people who occupy those rooms. I pray over the ministry that is happening in our home and for the events that will happen over the next few months.
A few years ago, I wrote this on my blog:
We spend time making sure each room in our homes are dust free, picked up, floors swept, linens washed and smelling good, but do we spend the same amount of time praying over our homes? Praying for the people inside? Praying for our homes to be a haven to those we love? Do we allow God to take up residence in our homes? I’ll be honest in sharing that I don’t always, at least not on a regular basis anyway.
Since that time I have committed to regularly praying through the rooms of my house while I clean. Prayers for my family, for the relationships developing, for hearts coming to know Jesus, for kind words to be spoken, safety and protection, for a marriage to continue to grow strong, for thanksgiving of all the physical blessings we have in our home.
Have you ever used cleaning time to pray?
Room-By-Room Spring Cleaning Prayers
Living Room
God, thank you for the space to gather together as a family to play, rest and entertain ourselves. Thank you for the gift of family and relationships. God I pray that we may each show love and respect to one another as Christ showed His love towards us and gave himself up, as fragrant offering and sacrifice. (Ephesians 5:2)
Children’s Bedroom
Lord, as my children grow and develop, I pray that they would also grow in the grace and knowledge of you as their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). May they grow to seek You in all they do and develop a heart that clings passionately to you. (Psalm 63:8)
Your Bedroom
God, continue to reveal to us Your love as we love one another. We know we are incapable of loving one another without the love you so freely give us. (1 John 4:9). Help us to show each other love, even when it’s hard and we don’t feel like it. Give us the strength to look to each other’s needs above our own. (Philippians 2:4)
Bathroom
Dear Father, as we dress for the day, may we remember that we are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). Through You we are made strong, we put on the full armor of God so we are able to stand strong in the faith. (Ephesians 6:10-11)
Kitchen
Lord thank you for the blessing to be able to meet the nutritional needs of my family. I love that you created us to desire community around the table, breaking bread with one another. (Acts 2:46) May we always remember that no matter what we eat or drink, we do it for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Outdoor Space
Lord, thank you for the birds chirping and the flowers blooming. Thank you for the space to gather outside to play, work and to show neighborly hospitality. May we be examples of your love as we serve and love our neighbors as you have called us to. (Mark 12:31) Help us to open our eyes to see the ways we can serve those around us. (1 John 3:16-18)
Play Areas
God, may my children be a blessing to others as they play and cultivate friendships. May they be generous and willing to share their special “treasures” with others. (1 Timothy 6:19) and may they be bold to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. (Mark 16:15)
Make it a priority to pray over your home and your family while you are cleaning.
Download your prayer cards here
What blessings have you experienced praying through your home?
Women of the Word Book Club {Chapter 6 Recap}
These are great suggestions! I’m like you… cleaning is not enjoyable in and of itself. It doesn’t take a lot of concentration, so praying while you clean is a great idea. I used to pray for my husband when I ironed all of his shirts and then I would write Scriptures or encouraging notes and put one in each shirt pocket. There were many times when he would come home and tell me how much he needed that exact encouraging word that day. He likes his pants and shirts heavy starched, so we now send them to the cleaners. So I guess I need to find another time to pray for him. 🙂