Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

The first post regarding this prayer was about the bigger picture priorities in prayer: worship of God and praying for his kingdom to come and his will to be done upon the earth.

Christian prayer should always begin with these priorities. In my experience as a Christian, prayer typically starts with worship, as it should, but rarely does it include praying for God’s kingdom to come and for his will to be done upon the earth. When we leave this out, our prayers tend to focus only on present, temporal needs such as food or housing, healing, or finances. He hears our requests and he cares for us. But if there is no element of the coming Kingdom, we become focused on the present and the temporal with no vision for the future God will bring, and our role in it.

The next phrase of the Lord’s prayer would seem to be for daily nourishment and we think of our stomach. We want to be fed each day. But is that the intent of the prayer?

Our Daily Bread

On the surface, this is a request for daily sustenance. But Jesus would later go on to say that if we seek first the Kingdom then “all these things”, that is the temporal needs we have, would be met. God will take care of us if we seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness. Do we seek the temporal first or do we seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness?

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Could there be another meaning embedded in this request for our daily bread? There is always a deeper spiritual meaning in the teachings of Messiah. Bread could be also a metaphor for God’s word and faith in Christ. Consider the following verses:

• Matthew 4:4 (KJV) – It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
• John 4:34 (NET Second Edition) Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work”.
• John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

As you pray for God’s daily provision in your life, may that include an understanding according to His Word and unqualified trust in Christ. Also remember the condition for God’s care for your needs: that you seek first the Kingdom and his righteousness.

The next post will cover one of the most powerful spiritual tools we have.