Once again open your time of studying the Word with prayer.  Acknowledge that the Holy Spirit is the One who will open your eyes to see and understand the truth.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 NKJV)

Daily bread — its kind of the same concept as a daily newspaper. Okay, I realize you’re probably thinking huh? But just hang with me a second.

The phrase daily bread only appears twice in the New Testament.  Once in Matthew and once in Luke, both times when the authors are writing about the Lord’s prayer.  Strong’s concordance describes daily bread as “bread of necessity” and “bread that suffices each day.”  Each day.  In other words, it is something we receive every day, kind of like we would a daily newspaper.

Yes, I know that is an odd comparison to make, but the gist of it is that both the daily bread and the daily paper are prepared for us each day.  We don’t do any of the preparing, we just do the receiving.

We receive provision from the Lord on a daily basis whether we ask for it or not.  Remember He knows our needs before we ask (Matthew 6:8).  In fact, I would go as far as to say that He knows what we need even before we know (or think we know) what we need.  So when we pray “Give us this day our daily bread” it’s similar to praying, “Okay, God, I’m ready for what You already have in store for me.  I’m ready for what You already know I need.”

This of course, it not necessarily just a provision of bread, but a provision for all our physical and spiritual needs.

Using your Bible, look up and read the following verses in context: Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 5:45, Matthew 6:25-34.  How does God provide for our physical needs? Who does He provide for?  Why?

Now lets look at spiritual provision.  Read the following in context: Deuteronomy 8:3 (Yes, one more time please. This time look at what God is doing spiritually.), Matthew 4:4, Isaiah 55:1-5, 10-11.

God is concerned with our physical well-being, but even more so He is concerned with our spiritual well-being.  Just as rain nourishes the ground and bread nourishes our bodies, the word of God nourishes our souls.  And healthy, nourished souls experience the joy and peace that can only be obtained by recieving our daily bread.

Read John 1:1-5, 14 and John 6:48-51.  Who is the bread of life?  How do we get our daily portion of this bread?

Jesus, You are the bread of life.  You are the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.  And yet I am able to hold the word of God, the Bible, in my hands.  I can’t wrap my brain around all of what that means, but it does open my eyes a bit to the importance of spending time reading Your word daily.  Could reading Your word be my daily bread?  I think so.  May I never leave my daily bread sitting on the shelf collecting dust.  May Your word forever and always be the nourishment that I crave.  In Your name I pray, amen.

My hope is that you are able to respond to the Lord and His word in your own way today.  However, if the words will not come, feel free to pray my prayer aloud as your own to the Lord.  I pray that you are able to apply these verses to your life and that they bring nourshiment to your soul.

Do you have a question or another insight?  Feel free to share any of your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Only by grace,

Kelli

Did you miss a day or two in this prayer challenge?  Find all the posts in this series here.