7 Simple Ways To Glorify God In The Kitchen (serve others & find joy!)

“God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Little voices echoed this prayer through our home as I grew up. My mom ran an in-home daycare with more than a handful of kids, and hearing this prayer before meals was a constant.

Most of us pray at mealtimes and teach our kids to do the same. But beyond that, do we really think about God as we go about our kitchen duties?

I love 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Today, we’re exploring the heart of this Scripture with 7 ways to glorify God in the kitchen! These simple ideas make God the central hub of your kitchen so you can serve, share, and find daily joy in the most well-loved room of your home.

#1 — Eat God’s Foods

Did you know you can glorify God in your food choices?

It’s a little tough to pray over foods that God never intended us to eat. I once heard a comedian say (of praying over fast food), “Lord, please change the molecular structure of this food so it will nourish our bodies…”

When we eat foods that aren’t natural, that’s essentially what we’re doing!

By eating GNOWFGLINS (God’s Natural, Organic, Whole Foods, Grown Locally, In Season), we are eating to glorify God and being good stewards of the bodies God gave us.

Of course, we don’t want to make food an idol (and a sugary cupcake will pass your lips from time to time), but when we strive to eat real food as much as possible and receive it with thanksgiving, we are better equipped to serve God.

I love 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”

Take special note of the phrase “created by God”. God defines food in this passage as something created by Him. So try steer clear of things He didn’t make (the processed, chemical-laden, fake stuff).

God wants us to feel good! I love 3 John 1:2: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

For more on this topic, read What Does the Bible Say About Food? Does God Care What I Eat?

#2 — Praise Him While You Work

Instead of whistling while we work, we’re going to praise HIM! A much better use of our time, and more interesting.

There are a myriad of ways to keep your mind focused on praise while you work in the kitchen. Here are some of my favorites:

• Sing hymns and songs of praise
• Listen to sermons & Christian podcasts (The Light Network is a great resource)
• Listen to the Bible on your audio device
• Pray while doing the dishes (you can even keep a list of people to pray for by your sink)
• Keep Scriptures or inspirational artwork in your kitchen as a reminder

#3 — Learn To Be Thankful

Let’s face it, at times kitchen work feels like drudgery. Meals need to be cooked and dishes need to be washed… day in, day out.

It can be difficult to have a heart of thankfulness and joy!

That’s why this embroidered sign in my kitchen means so much to me. This same poem hangs in my mother’s and grandmother’s kitchen also. Here’s the full version:

Thank God for dirty dishes
They have a tale to tell
While others may go hungry
We’re eating very well
With home and health and happiness
We shouldn’t want to fuss
For by this stack of evidence
God’s very good to us!

To help you grow in thankfulness, read 6 Ways To Banish Stress And Find More Joy In The Kitchen And Your Life.

#4 — Serve Selflessly

Along the same lines of being thankful (even for dirty dishes!), let’s view working in the kitchen as a God-given opportunity to serve. After all, Matthew 20:28 says, “…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

It’s amazing how something as simple is cooking and cleaning can help mold our hearts to be more like Jesus.

Every time you’re tempted to inwardly complain about the new stack of dishes in the sink or more meal prep, think of it as a service opportunity. A way to mold your heart into being more like Him.

Remember when Jesus served the loaves and fishes to the crowd of 5,000? Now that’s a lot of mouths to feed!

#5 — Teach Littles To Serve

As young girl, I was very particular about getting my hands dirty and especially disliked dishes. With after-dinner cleanup duty, my parents usually told me exactly what to do. Other than completing my specified tasks, I didn’t lift a finger to do anything “extra”.

One night, my dad said something that finally got through to me: “Don’t sit around waiting to be told how to serve. Look around, see what needs to be done, and do it!”

This is the kind of heart we want to cultivate in our kids: to be observant and take the initiative in service.

Is someone’s glass empty? Refill it!

Did a family member leave their dirty plate on the table? Take it to the sink for them!

Is the floor sprinkled with crumbs? Grab a broom!

Cheer your kids on when they complete these little tasks.

Kitchen work also helps teach your kids about healthy foods and how to prepare them. For lots of ideas on this, read How to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables (and other yucky things).

#6 — Embrace Hospitality

One of the best ways to glorify God in the kitchen is by sharing it with others. Romans 12:13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

The Bible contains many examples of those who open their homes to share blessings: Abraham (Genesis 18), Samson’s parents (Judges 13), the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17), Zacchaeus (Luke 19), Lydia (Acts 16), the people of Malta (Acts 28), and more.

Yet sometimes it can feel like a huge undertaking, right?

This is embarrassing to admit, but before guests arrive in our home my husband and I are usually tense and snapping at each other. Why? Because we are frantically cleaning and trying too hard to impress our guests!

When hospitality transforms from a blessing to a curse, we need to check our hearts. 1 Peter 4:9 says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

The grumbling happens, I think, because we are trying make sure that everything is perfect… rather than focusing on the real reason for hospitality: to connect and share life with others.

Instead, I want to embrace imperfect or “scruffy” hospitality. I love the concept of scruffy hospitality described here:

Scruffy hospitality means you’re not waiting for everything in your house to be in order before you host and serve friends in your home. Scruffy hospitality means you hunger more for good conversation and serving a simple meal of what you have, not what you don’t have. Scruffy hospitality means you’re more interested in quality conversation than the impression your home or lawn makes. If we only share meals with friends when we’re excellent, we aren’t truly sharing life together. –Rev. Jack King, In Praise of ‘Scruffy Hospitality’

#7 — Cook A Meal For Someone In Need

Finally, one of the most memorable ways to glorify God in the kitchen is by preparing a meal for someone in need.

Our family is so blessed to have been recipients of many delicious meals from generous hearts. These meals helped get us through stressful seasons of moving, new babies, and more.

The thing is, cooking for someone else doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, the most memorable thing I received after the birth of my second baby was a large Tupperware full of freshly cut fruit. It was exactly what I needed!

Here’s a run-down of the best practices for cooking meals as ministry to others. Don’t forget the disposable containers!

Do you enjoy spending lots of time in your kitchen? How do you eat to glorify God and incorporate Him into your home?