Our Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 & Luke 11:3)

In my small group we’ve been working through a series on prayer. Part of the series uses the Lord’s prayer as a guide. Jesus himself used the Lord’s prayer to teach others how to pray.

But when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” What does this mean? Is it only about asking God to provide food for our physical needs? I think there is lot more to this seemingly simple prayer.

Scripture attests that bread is not only a way of feeding our bodies, but bread can also represent our spiritual sustenance. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 CEB). Jesus also pointed out, “People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.” (Matthew 4:4 CEB).

When we pray for God to give us our daily bread, we are asking that God will also feed our souls. God feeds us with the word of God, and through God’s grace, and love, and power. With this prayer, we are asking God to supply us with everything we need to live righteous and fruitful lives in Christ. We are asking God to fill us with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, so we can face the challenges and opportunities of each day.

God knows what we need better than we do. God knows what will satisfy our deepest hunger and thirst. God knows what will nourish our faith and strengthen our hope. God knows what will make us grow in love and holiness. God knows what will bring us joy and peace.

We know that God is faithful and generous. We can trust God to give us our daily bread according to God’s will and timing. God will give us exactly what we need for today.

Together, may we learn to trust God to provide for us every day. May we be thankful for God’s goodness and mercy. May we share God’s bread with others who are hungry and thirsty; And may we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth. Together we pray with both confidence and gratitude: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

I invite you to pray with me:

All we have comes from your hands. How easily we forget that we need you for our life and breath.

Too often we forget to thank you. Give us today what we need to survive this day. And when we face challenges bigger than us. Remind us you will sustain us every hour, every minute, and each second.

Give what we need to love you today with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

And tomorrow, we will come to you again.

Amen.

-Chaplain Shawn