As many times as I have recited what is called the Lord’s Prayer, I have failed to pay attention to the part about giving me my daily bread until recently. This prayer is one that we are trained to recite from our youth without really taking the time to understand the words. In fact if you really take time to examine the words, it is not the Lord’s, but ours. Why would the Lord need forgiveness for debts and debtors? It is He who has said, “the heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool.” (Isaiah 66: 1). Let’s not forget about the cattle that are on a thousand hills. (Psalm 55:10).

            The first thought about the daily bread is one of natural provision as we are in the natural world. The word bread limits our thoughts to the desire and appetite of the flesh. In Exodus 16, the Israelites murmured and complained about their provision until the Lord sent quails and manna. It was called manna because they did not know what it was and had never seen anything like it, as it had never been on the earth before. “And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.” (Exodus 15:16). The Lord provided manna for the Israelites for forty years as they were in the wilderness.

            This manna was something remarkable and could not be explained for it was unknown. It appeared daily at dawn in abundance, as every man was to gather what was needed for that day. They were not to have leftovers because the manna turned into worms.

            Asking for daily bread calls for new and now faith on a daily basis. Your mindset and focus must be focused that God will provide whatever is needed for that day and it will be in abundance. “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3: 21-23).

            This prayer is one of Jesus’ teachings to the disciples. Jesus himself was the bread of life in the New Testament. Jesus is that bread that gives life beyond the physical need. “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6: 31-35).

As modern day disciples, we need to meditate and be obedient to the teaching not just reciting words. We know and understand that prayer is talking with God, which involves asking as well as receiving answers from Him. So, I begin to think what am I asking for when I ask for my daily bread. Am I asking for the physical, the obvious, or the spiritual, those things unseen that I have need of that I am not even aware of.

            As I arise early to gather my portion, the miracle of the manna is His presence, His faithfulness. Am I asking for joy, peace, patience, healing, strength, faith, or even the sound of His voice through His Word? The Creator of the day releases new mercies, new grace, and new favor every morning. Just as the dew waters the earth, He provides everything new of each day that we experience.

            Father, as you have created this day, I ask for my daily bread. For you alone have lovingly provided in abundance that which you have ordained for me for this day. You have even perfected those things that I do not know about. I know that you watch over me and I am blessed this day.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Becky DeWitt