Here’s What Happens When You Diligently Seek the Lord
By: Bett Harris
Tags: Christianity, Prayer, Boundaries, Relationships, Bible Study

How God used a laundry basket to build up His disciples

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I take part in an online Bible study with five other women. We take time out of our busy schedules each week to meet on Zoom for 75 minutes. We each come from different regions in Canada and the US, but distance is no barrier to God.

In last weeks’ session God showed us how faithful He is when we diligently seek Him. Let me share our story with you. May it bless you as it blessed each of us.

Lead me Lord

Our group consists of women from different age groups, and varying socioeconomic status’ and vocations. One thing we do have in common is we love the Lord and we seek to do His will.

As the leader of our Bible study, one of my jobs is to choose what scripture we study each week. After each study I wait patiently for God to speak the next verse or passage into my heart, and He’s not failed me yet. Last weeks verse was from Philippians.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:3–5, NIV)

Simple study outline

We use a study method called the African Bible Study Method were we listen to the chosen passage from at least three different Bible translations. We usually start with a common translation such as the New International Version (NIV) or New King James Version (NKJV).

We like to follow that up with either the Message (MSG) or Amplified (AMP) version. We choose these translations because they elaborate greatly on the text. This allows us a broader interpretation and understanding of what we’re studying.

We end with a less common translation such as the Modern English Version (MEV) or the New Living Translation (NLT). We aim to vary our readings so we experience as many different versions as possible as the weeks go by.

We share what God speaks

After each reading, in turn, we each share what God spoke to us. At first it’s often just a word that catches our attention. The words selfish and humility floated to the top after our first reading of the scripture in the NIV.

We chose the MSG translation for our second go-around.

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. (Philippians 2:3–5, MSG)

Themes begin to arise

As we move through the study, instead of words, God often brings phrases to our minds. From the Message version, put yourself aside and forget yourself were what caught most of our attentions. As we each proceeded to shared how God was speaking to us, it became apparent that God was uniting our group in a miraculous way that day.

Speak Lord, for your servant is listening

After the third translation is read, we take approximately 10 minutes to quietly seek God’s face. Our goal is to allow God the time and space to speak directly to our hearts. Some of us turn our audio and/or video off during this time.

As we seek God we ask Him questions like, What do You want me to do or be?, and What am I to change in relation to what You’ve spoken to me so far? In our own unique ways, we humbly approach God for guidance and direction, and He is always faithful to meet up with each of us.

When two or more come together God is there

Our final reading of our chosen scripture for this session was from the MEV translation.

Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:3–5, MEV)

When we came back together after spending time listening for God to speak, we shared what God spoke to each of us. This week, it was like God had a single message which He downloaded to each of us separately. We were all amazed as, in turn, we each shared our experience. This is where things got really interesting.

Disciples serve and spread the good news

Our group consists of six women who are committed to serving others, true disciples of God’s truths, determined to spread the gospel far and wide. That became apparent early on in our time together. Having a humble heart, setting ourselves aside, was often our main focus. We did this, at times, to our own detriment. This was the first truth God spoke to our hearts.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, (Ephesians 1:18, NIV)

It became clear to each of us that to serve God and others, it shouldn’t mean we must sacrifice our own peace or resources. Each of us had been trying so desperately to be good disciples, we lost touch with our own needs and sacrificed our own resources. We each admitted to feeling, at times, drained, taken advantage of, even misused by the very people we were serving. This was never God’s intention and He made that clear to each one of us.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (2 Timothy 2:20–21, NIV)

How to do things differently

As each woman shared what God had spoken to her, hearts softened and peace settled on the group. We began to see that a few small tweaks were all that was necessary for our disregarded hearts to be set straight.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. (Psalm 16:6, NIV)

Setting boundaries can seem like a rigid and segregating action to a giving heart. However, as servants of the Living God, we are called to set limits on our giving. Each of us admitted to struggling with this idea though. In our own way we each had asked God this question, How do we continue to give, serve, and remain humble without feeling drained, misused, and becoming bitter?

The idea that set us all free

As one woman began to speak, she shared an idea that was given to her by a counsellor years ago. During a session she had attended to help her manage an important relationship in her life, the counsellor gave her this tool, which she shared with the group.

The counsellor likened the roles and responsibilities within relationships to a laundry basket. The purpose of a laundry basket is to hold dirty clothes that need to be washed, and clean clothes once cleaned. Each family member is assigned their own basket. As adults, we are responsible for tending to our own laundry basket. Even kids have their own basket in their room and are encouraged to place their dirty clothes in it. In an orderly household, members don’t leave their dirty laundry strewn on the floor nor do they fill other members baskets with their dirty laundry. Ideally, we are each responsible for tending to our own laundry.

The point became clear pretty quickly

Like our laundry, in our relationships we each need to tend to our own issues, struggles, and challenges (manage our own dirty laundry). We each must understand ourselves and our limits, and be adept at knowing when our baskets are full and need tending to. Also, we each should be mature and aware enough to keep our own laundry in our own baskets, and not burden others with it. In essence, my basket is my basket, your basket is your basket. We must keep our baskets ordered and well maintained so they don’t overflow and negatively impact others.

We also need to be aware when others are trying to fill our laundry basket with their dirty laundry, and not allow it to happen. By applying this perspective, we should seldom become overwhelmed, drained, or be left feeling misused.

It takes work and practice but keep at it

Though it’s a simple enough concept to envision, it still takes work, communication, and commitment to manage the subtleties of our relationships with others. Feelings get hurt, we get overworked or caught off guard. At times we’ll find we’ve misplaced pieces of our laundry or we’ve acquired pieces that are not ours. However, by using this simple example, we can responsibly and respectfully return what’s not ours, and gather up what is, and return it to it’s rightful place.

We end our sessions with prayer

We always end our Bible study by praying for each other. One person prays for the next and in turn our specific needs are addressed and brought to God. This day, we shared a common prayer. You can do the same.

Ask God to help you get clear about what belongs in your laundry basket and what does not. Pray for clarity and compassion when facing decisions on what to do with other peoples laundry. With clear boundaries in place, our relationships will thrive and we can focus on what we are really here to do, serves others and spread the good news.