Hello, and welcome to another blessing Sunday. Traveling with me on this path are

Lynda Lambert who shared the idea with me

and

Abbie Johnson Taylor

This is the 4th part in my series on the Lord’s prayer, Matt 6:9-13. I’m concentrating on v. 11 “Give us today our daily bread.”

Many of us in developed nations have no idea what it means to be hungry. Seems rather foolish, doesn’t it, to be asking for daily bread when there’s practically a grocery store or fast food restaurant on every corner. It’s like get your butt out of your seat, out the door, & get what you need.

But behind closed doors, even in developed nations, hunger is a daily reality for some. Even more so in developing countries, where it’s often a lifelong nightmare.

Even in developed countries, though, this prayer is applicable. Maybe we don’t really need to ask God for our food, but I think daily bread applies to other areas of life. How often do we think about “how am I gonna do this or that?” or “how am I gonna be able to do x or y?” Maybe it’s get a job. Maybe it’s cope with devastating tragedy or health problems. Maybe it truly is coping with not having life’s necessities. This part of the Lord’s prayer reminds us that His provision occurs daily, sometimes just in the nick of time. God’s with us. He is our father, and he cares for us abundantly beyond all that we think or ask. He will provide. Maybe not on our timeframe, maybe not giving us everything we ask for, but He will give us what we need. God tells us to ask Him even though He already knows what it is we want and require.

It’s often tempting to think that we provide things for ourselves, that we earn it through our work or our cunning or our looks. But the reality is it’s all from God.

God gives us so many things–mountain vistas, azure oceans, ploomed musicians, family, friends, knowledge, and so much more that the blessings are innumerable. But it’s still good to remind ourselves daily that it’s God who provides for our every need.

Heavenly Father, make our hearts grateful and humble enough to accept your provision for our lives. But also give us the desire to be Your hands and feet in helping to show Your provision to others. In Jesus’s name, amen.