| Our American culture prides itself on independence and a sense of self-sufficiency. And yet, the reality is that everything about us screams dependency. From our need for food and rest, to the way our bodies are wired to involuntarily breathe and regulate our heart rate, nothing about us happened by chance.
The truth is we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). As creatures we are in desperate need of our Creator’s daily provision. Pastor Alex reminded us that every one of us lives “hand to mouth”… It is our heavenly Father’s hand of provision supplying our daily need.
Today we continued in our series on prayer as we specifically focused on Matthew 6:11 from the Lord’s prayer:
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Give: We are commanded to ask God for our needs. But, we are not to do so with a demanding, arrogant heart. Instead the idea here is that we do so with an attitude of trust and humility. Give speaks to our dependence on God. Pastor Alex likened it to a child who asks their parents, “What is for dinner?” Not as in “Is there dinner?” but rather, “What are we having for dinner?” May we all have that same childlike faith as we pray and ask Him to provide what we need!
Daily: Daily speaks to that which is needed for today’s provision. It also speaks to our contentment with what has been provided.
Bread: Bread speaks to the basic necessities of life (physical, spiritual, emotional, etc…).
Challenge
- We don’t just need God to provide our daily food. Our greater need is life itself… eternal life through Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. There is nothing we can do, in our own strength, to earn or work our way back into a right standing with God. We are utterly dependent on the sacrifice of Jesus who died in our place on the cross, taking a punishment that should have been ours, to provide eternal life. Want to learn more about what it means to follow Jesus? Check out this page on our website for more info.
- Check your heart. Are you trusting in your own abilities to provide for your needs? If so, pray and ask God to forgive you of your self-sufficient heart. Commit anew to trust Him alone for your daily provision.
- Asking God to provide the daily necessities of life is really about trust. A heart of trust, believing that His ways are best, impacts all areas of our lives and how we choose to follow Him. We take a sabbath day’s rest not because we run out of work to do, but because we trust that God, who never has to rest, is at work to supply even while we, as needy creatures, rest. Similarly we tithe out of a heart of trust, believing that He wants to us to give back and trust that He is capable to supply our daily needs… including our daily need tomorrow. Are you living with an attitude of fear? Or are you living by faith, trusting in God’s daily provision by regularly giving back to Him?
Blessings,
David Bass
Executive Pastor |
