“Give us this day our daily bread . . .”

GOD’S PROVIDENCE

God is able to provide for all our needs. The Greek word for “bread” represents not just food, but every physical thing we need. When we pray for our daily bread, we ask God to provide for our material, physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs for that day. Daily bread can include the daily needs of ministries, people, communities, leaders, family, friends, as well as personal needs. God commits Himself to provide for His children, yet God knows more about what we need than we ourselves know. By praying for our daily bread, we are not taking it for granted, but acknowledging that all our life depends on His mercy.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  (Matthew 6:33-34)

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.’”     (John 6:35)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”     (James 1:17

The phrase “this day” shows that we rely on God one day at a time. Compared to the rest of people on earth, we are wealthy Christians. It’s far too easy for us to forget that not only our talents, resources, and opportunities come from God, but also the next meal. Asking for what we need each day — even if it’s already in our refrigerators — encourages a relationship with the One who gives all. He wants us to come to Him not only with our big requests, but with our everyday requests as well. He wants us to remember and ask for His help with the most basic needs — disciplining our children, speaking to a spouse, growing spiritually, resolving a conflict with a friend, reuniting with family members, leading ministries, conducting an office meeting, and going to the movies.

So, what if we ask for the wrong things — things that, while they may be good in themselves, are not in god’s plan for us? As a loving Father, God will always give us what’s best for us, not necessarily what we want. What we receive will be what’s right for us and fits God’s greater goal of transforming us to be more like Him.