Let’s Eat || Learning the Lord’s Prayer || Week 3

What are we saying when we recite the Lord’s Prayer? It’s a practice for most Christians to say in their daily lives when they get up, go to bed, and at church, among other practices. Yet, how often do we think about and dig deeper into what we are saying to God? Over the next five weeks, I will take the Lord’s Prayer, as told by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13, apart line-by-line. We will examine what each line is saying and how it’s reflected throughout the rest of the Bible. Let’s dive into it!

We’ve covered these lines so far:

• Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed by thy name. 
• Your kingdom comes, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Today, we’re talking about this line: “Give us this day our daily bread.” It sometimes says: “Give us this day our bread for tomorrow.” From Matthew 6:11, it says this:

11 Give us today the food we need. 

My biggest question when I first started digging deeper into this was: “Are they asking for food? Like actual food?” From a literal standpoint, it makes sense because we need food daily to help give us strength and energy, but would this be something that Jesus wants us to ask God to get? As I’ve matured in my faith journey, I’ve learned that the answer is multi-faceted. Yes, we should be thankful for the food we have in front of us. Yet, this line also talks about spiritual nourishment. Let’s talk more about this. Let’s go further in Matthew 6 to verse 34. 

Soul Food

34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Jesus teaches us not to worry, or be anxious, about what could happen tomorrow right at this moment. We will have worries when tomorrow comes, just as today brought its worries. Jesus tells us the worries we have about today are enough and that we don’t need to bring more worries into it. Easier said than done, right?

I’ve struggled with anxiety for many years. Telling me not to worry is like telling Aaron Judge not to hit home runs. It’s virtually impossible. So, how could it be possible for me to “not worry” about tomorrow? Think back to Matthew 6:11

Give us today the food we need. God, give me the strength to get through today. Notice the focus on being in the present. We don’t ask God for next week’s strength, next month’s strength, tomorrow’s strength, or next year’s strength. We ask for the strength to get us through today. Staying in the present is a way to keep that mindset. We could use this focus with prayer and meditation. It could be practicing mindful breathing or exercising. Plenty of techniques in these areas help keep us centered today. 

This part of the Lord’s prayer does include actual food. Ensure you eat right. Taking in too much junk can make you feel like junk. When you feel like junk physically, you can feel like junk mentally. When you feel like junk mentally can lead us down many thought spirals, both good and bad. The food we need daily includes a balanced diet of meat (if you eat it), veggies, fruits, grains, and some sweets. I’m not going to tell you not to have any sweets because:

• I’m not a qualified professional in the medical or nutritional field.
• Everything is okay in moderation in this context. 

Be aware of things that can worsen your anxiety (caffeine and sugar, in my experience), and learn how to alleviate those sensations when possible. 

Give us today our daily bread. It makes me think of the Israelites in the desert when they first received their manna. They didn’t know what it was (literally, the Hebrew Word manna means “what is this?), but they knew it was God’s provision. He would provide enough to get them through the day and twice as much on the 6th day so they would rest on the Sabbath. A practice that took place way back in Exodus that Jesus encourages today. The circumstances have changed, but the message is clear. Receive what you need to receive for today, for this present moment, and worry about what you need tomorrow then. (NOTE: There was no direct connection to this passage, but could there be a connection?)

Thanks for joining me for Week 3 of my “Learning the Lord’s Prayer” series. Next week, we look at the tricky topic of forgiveness. Until then, stay blessed!