We last talked about God’s will for our lives. Now we will learn why we do not need to worry about lives and our provisions day by day, although we do. It is definitely part of our humanity due to the fall of man that caused us to have to work hard for our living, but even in the punishment of having to work the ground as it brings forth thistles and thorns, God watches over us.
“Give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 NIV)
“God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7, KJV) I picture that breath as the Holy Spirit of God and without that breath, Adam would not be alive, nor would we without breath. God gives us all we need to survive, the basics of life, and from this branch of The Lord’s Prayer framework, we will hang our requirements only for today. We “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
I usually think I require much more than I actually require, but if we are honest, we can admit we can get by on much less. God fed the Children of Israel manna (bread from Heaven that came down every night with the dew) in the desert and if He had not, they would have starved. Instructions for gathering included not gathering more than was needed for the day, and those who did found it spoiled in the morning anyway. That is a picture of what this part of The Lord’s Prayer is saying; provide our needs for today, God. When we pray this we are also admitting that we need God to provide for us, and that we trust Him to do so.
This lays the groundwork for a much deeper relationship with The Lord. Imagine if we could pray this every day and leave on the floor of our prayer closet any worries about how we will manage physically, emotionally and/or financially that day. If we would really obey God and trust Him, He will not only be pleased with us, our lives would be much easier as well. Who doesn’t want that?
Lord, provide for us today all that we need. Hold us in Your loving arms and help us to remember where our help comes from. Give us today our daily bread and may we trust in Your provision as enough for us. May we remember Your love and faithfulness, even when it seems what You provide is not enough. Your judgments are sure and Your love is unfailing. Thank You for all You do for me and forgive me for my sometimes selfish and ungrateful attitude. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Next time we will dive deeper into God’s Word. Just as it hurts to dig out a splinter deep in your finger, we will see in Part Ten that sometimes digging out of our flesh the things that hinder our walk with God is painful, but once the hard work is done we will obtain the relief found when what is harmful is removed, be it a splinter or sin!
Yours in Christ,
Sonya Richards
(To Access the rest of “The Lord’s Prayer” mini-series, please click here!)