“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11
I wonder how many of us in our Western culture, during this time in history, really grasp the full extent of this petition. Many of us have not missed a meal a day in our life (well…unless it’s been from our own doing) or have gone without a roof over our head or clothes to wear. While I know that doesn’t speak for everyone, I think our culture as a whole leans more towards the misconception that we are our own providers… If we want it, we go for it, we work for it, and we achieve our own provision for ourselves and our families. Many of us don’t truly lack the necessities of life, and therefore are blinded to the need for such a petition as this.
Of course, the Hebrew audience hearing Jesus teach on how to pray, held a different history. Their ancestors depended on the provision of God on a daily basis as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Fully dependant on God for all areas of need, and every meal they would consume. Nothing was able to be stored away, kept for later, or hoarded away so as to have more than others. The Israelites were being trained that God alone was their Provider. (ref. Exodus 16)
He’s our Provider too!
Sustainer.
Protector.
Security.
Our Provision.
All we have is from Him. Even the ability to work and earn money to buy food comes from the hand of God. God fills the gap in our present needs and removes the reason to worry for all future needs, as He is our daily Provision, whether or not we recognize Him as that or not.
Give us this day our daily bread. This petition speaks to meeting all our needs.
Physical.
Mental.
Spiritual.
And He provides it in the measure that He knows is best for us. He calls us to daily dependency. Not a once-a-week fill-up that takes us through the rest of the week, but a day-to-day invitation to grow in our walk with Him. As we come to God in a spirit of humbleness, leaning on His ways, our faith grows. Our strength in Him grows. Our confidence grows when we’ve seen time and time again God meet every single need, and we lay down the fears of the future and the unknowns that we’ll journey through.
Lord, give us this day our daily bread. Help us to see You as our Provider, not ourselves. And may we have a grateful perspective on all that You’ve given us…in times of plenty and in times of far less.
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