“Give us this day our daily bread”
“Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” (Ex. 25:30)
“I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who 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…I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” -Jesus (John 6:32, 33, 35)
In the Scriptures bread has always represented life, sustenance and God’s presence. In the Gospel of John Jesus refers to God providing the manna to the people of Israel on the daily basis during their time with Moses in the wilderness. We also see that bread was kept before the Lord at all times when the tabernacle was built and it was called the Bread of the Presence. Then Jesus reveals that He is the Bread of Life. He says in the Scripture above that the manna was foreshadowing Him. He is the provision for our needs…He is our sustenance…He is the Presence of the Father! Even at the last supper in the upper room Jesus took the bread and broke it and said, “This is my body broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
So, knowing all this, when Jesus instructs the disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” it becomes more than a simple request to meet our needs in the moment. It is a request for the presence of Jesus…for the power of Jesus…for the provision of Jesus in our life today. It is He Himself that quenches our thirst. It is His love and care for us that satisfies the hunger in our souls
“Give us this day our daily Jesus”
This is not an instruction to pray through our list of needs and wants. This is an instruction to pray for fellowship with the Bread of Life who is our strength and can and will meet all of our needs if we are with Him.
“I can’t make it for a moment without you, my Lord. You know all that I will need today and I know that I need You. You are all I need.”
Today, could this be your prayer. Just put your “list” aside for a moment and simply spend time in His presence. Let His Holy Spirit fill you and equip you and give you strength for the day’s events.
Give us this day our daily bread!