You’re back? (Bonus points for any of you who actually looked in your frig. But deduct points if you brought back a piece of cheesecake. The rest of you who just kept reading, where’s your team spirit?)
Okay. Most of us who actually checked our refrigerator found
enough food for a small army. Granted, some of it is old and turning an unusual
color, but that’s because we decided not to eat it. We just made or bought some
more.
So why did Jesus teach us to pray, Give us this day our
daily bread? In the P-R-A-Y-E-R acrostic, this is A – Ask for daily needs.
But why? Why ask for something we already have in abundance?
The majority of us have never had to miss a meal. Our major question at
mealtime is about options. Should we get
fast food? Reheat the chicken from last night? Order a pizza?
If you have enough food, and have always had enough, it’s
easy to take it for granted. The same goes for clothing. (I could have
asked you to go check out your closet, too). Or housing. Most of us don't have to worry about having a roof over our heads. We have the blessing of clean
water to drink and relatively pure air to breathe.
Asking for our daily bread (and I suggest you include
clothing, shelter, clean water and breathable air) reminds us where these
blessings come from. They are part of God’s “common grace,” and they don’t come
because we are more worthy than those who don’t have them. God is God, and we
must not assume His blessings are our right or are granted automatically. To
pray for them is to maintain an attitude of humble thanksgiving, and cultivates
dependence upon the God who blesses us far more richly than we will ever
deserve.
Jesus’ prayer says give us our daily bread. Praying daily for
daily needs teaches us to rely upon Him
for what we need that day. Christ taught us a lifestyle of daily trust: Therefore
do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34).
Praying about our most basic needs gives us an opportunity
to remember and to pray for people who do not have these things. It may spur us
into action to try to help people with the overflow of the blessings God has
given us.
“Lord, thank You so much for the food You’ve given us, for
clean water and air, for the clothes we wear, and for the home you’ve provided us
to live in. Have mercy upon the people who do not have these things now, and
please provide for them, too. Please, Father, give us today the food and
water and clothing we need, grant us the air we need to breathe, and bless our home with
love and safety. You are the Giver of all these things, and we trust you today.”
FOR NEXT TIME: praYer – Yield confession and forgiveness
