Give us today our daily bread. – Matthew 6:11
Have you ever had a familiar verse or idea suddenly jump out of nowhere and strike you in a different way?
I’m the bread guy in our house. Regular sandwich bread, cinnamon raisin bread, even special seasoned bread for stuffing the Christmas and Thanksgiving turkeys. I make them all.
I am one with my bread machine.
A few days ago, while measuring ingredients for a new loaf, the words DAILY BREAD smacked me upside the head and wouldn’t let me go.
When words or phrases hit me like that, I know that God’s trying to tell me something.
But what was this about?
Jesus told us to ask God for ”our daily bread” when he taught us the Lord’s prayer. But did I really grasp what he meant by that?
Turns out it’s about more than just asking God for something to eat. Daily bread means:
1. We’re supposed to be in conversation with God every day. Not just once a week. Not just when it’s convenient. Not just when times are hard. Not just when our team is down by two points with less than three minutes on the clock. Every day. Give us today our daily bread.
2. We’re supposed to ask God (and count on him) to provide our needs. Not our desires. Our needs. Back then, bread was simple sustenance. They had cinnamon and raisins back in Biblical times, but apparently nobody thought about putting them in bread until Henry David Thoreau did it back in the 1800s. Thank you, Henry. Better late than never. Give us today our daily bread.
3. We’re supposed to focus on today. Scripture says not to dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18) or to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). God, please help me to live one day at a time. Give us today our daily bread.
“Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. – Proverbs 30:7-9
What does “daily bread” mean to you?
What’s your favorite kind of bread?
Chris Gagner (4)
Liz McLennan (3)
David Rupert (1)
Juan Cruz Jr (1)
Kevin Martineau (1)
Mandie (1)
Rachel (1)
tinafreysd (1)
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
To me, “daily bread” means God is there with me, whether I am walking through the desert , the valley of the shadow of death, or on the mountain top. In every situation, He has my back, He cares, and He gives me what I need. Sometimes, I don’t love what that is, but I trust Him. My two favourite kinds of bread (and I really can’t choose) are cinnamon raisin or Jewish challah.
Well said, Ann. You are definitely a writer!
I can’t decide between those two breads either. A bit of both, please!
I love bread! All bread. My favorite might be either pizza crust or tortillas from Chipotle. It’s amazing. I think you nailed it on our daily bread. Great thoughts today.
Rob Shepherd recently posted..One Year Ago Today Our Son Became Our Daughter
Ah yes, I’ve noticed that you are a bit of a Chipotle fan, Rob. Thanks!
To me, “Give us our Daily Bread” means requesting, accepting and thanking that God is our heart and soul ~ the nourishment for the spiritual part of our lives.
As for my favorite, way too many to list, but if forced to list ~ I’d start the list with a good old-fashioned French Baguette.
Nice post, by the way…. got me to thinking!!
Carol Rives recently posted..Better Late Than Never ~
Thank you, Carol!
Great thoughts on this subject Larry!
My thoughts on the meaning of “daily bread” are pretty much the same as yours.
Kevin Martineau recently posted..Missing opportunities
Glad you stopped by, Kevin!
On January 1st of this year, Julie Crawford challenged our congregation to commit to one thing that God has been prompting us to do, in order to spend more time with Him. I surprised, and not surprised at the same time, to find that both I and my wife had had the same thought – to read the whole bible within the time limit of 2012. I began reading my Chronological Bible on January 1st, and have managed to keep up so far – not quite daily, but almost. this had become, for me, my daily bread.
Thanks Larry!
Great idea, Peter. I’d like to have a go at that too.
My favorite kind of bread is cinnamon and raisin bread. I also like cinnamon raisin bagels, and cinnamon and raisin waffles. Well enough of that. God’s word says in Matthew 4:4 ‘Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” So our daily bread are the promises that God has for us in his word. The bread that keeps me going everyday is his Word. God Bless.
Juan Cruz Jr recently posted..Life Journal: Be a Good Steward
Spot on. Thanks for sharing, Juan!
Oh, yes, I love me some bread. I love me some bread a little too much. And, I don’t even discriminate. I like bread in all forms, all flavors, as long as it doesn’t have nuts because I’m deathly allergic.
When God gave the Isrealites their manna in the desert, they could collect no more than was needed for each day. If they kept it, it went bad. To me, this is representative of our daily need to commune with God and be fed from Him spiritually, each and every day. We can’t get by on Sundays alone.
Keri recently posted..Kickstarter and the Crowd Funding Craze
Right on, Keri!