GIVE US THIS DAY
By Pastor Mark Taylor
December 1, 2017
“Give us this day, our daily bread” Matthew 6: 11
This is part of the prayer our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray. Therefore we need to pay close attention as we learn how to pray.
In the Old Testament God fed the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness. He fed them every day. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.” Exodus 16:4.
God gave them instructions on how to gather it for one day at a time. "So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer (about two quarts) for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” Exodus 16: 15-16.
Our Lord also told us that He was the “Bread of Life” that we should desire.
“Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:32-40.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:32-40.
There are many applications we can make from these scriptures in relationship to how we should pray and why we should pray: “Give us this day, our daily bread”
(Matthew 6:11.).
Our main request from our Heavenly Father should be “Give me more of Jesus, today.” When we have “The Bread of Life” we will have everything else we need. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). He understands that we have other needs, but He should be our priority.
Our main routine should be early in the morning every day. When we leave our house to go to work our engaged in our daily activities, our efforts and our energy will be less than it could have been with our “daily Bread”. Just as our physical body requires nourishment, our souls need spiritual nourishment. If we feel frustrated and tired in the middle of the day, it is because we have forgotten to ask for and receive our “daily bread”. It is also important to pray all day long for direction, protection, and sanctification. Our requests should be “What is it?” What do you want me to do with what you have given me?
Our main results is that when we are fed we will have enough left over for all those in our tents. If you will go to our Lord for your “daily bread”, then He will give you enough for all those who have needs that you are responsible for. Your family needs for you to be strong, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Research has shown that when the mind is full of stress, worry, and fear, it will have a direct affect on the body. When we are full of our Lord Jesus, there is little room for rest of these things He has told us to get out of our lives.
Let us all start our day with saying the “Lord’s Prayer” and meaning it in our hearts. It may sound like a ritual, but it is the model prayer that will lead us into a deeper prayer life with our Savior. If you are uncomfortable about saying the prayer because you feel your prayers should come directly from your heart, then include these things in your prayer: Praise and Thanksgiving; Provision and protection; His will to be done in your life; and Sanctification - the ability to live a life pleasing to God.
