21 Days of Prayer resources: www.cccofgod.org/21DaysofPrayer
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
So far in this series, we’ve covered:
The Fatherhood of God - Our Father in Heaven (Mt. 6:9)
The Worship of God - Hallowed be Your Name (Mt. 6:9)
The Will of God - Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Mt. 6:10-11)
Today: The Provision of God - Give us today our daily bread. (Mt. 6:11)
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
We have needs because we live in this world, and this prayer acknowledges the reality of those needs, but it also acknowledges the reality that God is the provider.
1. Give us Bread from Heaven
Matthew 6:11 NKJV
Give us this day our daily bread.
Exodus 16:3 NLT
“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
Exodus 16:4 NLT
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.
We should pray as if everything depends on God.
2. Pray the Word of God
Matthew 4:3-4 (New Living Translation)
3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
When we come to God asking for our daily bread, we should be aware that our true need is in our souls. We need God and His Word to tell us who He is, who we are, and how we’re supposed to live.
3. The Secret To Contentment
Numbers 21:5 NLT
…and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”
There’s a considerable difference between what we need and what we want.
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
One of the greatest tools of the enemy is a four letter word called MORE. Too often Christians become entangled in a web of desire. Our desires shift from NEED to always wanting MORE.
The secret to contentment is understanding Philippians 4:19
Philippians 4:19 NLT
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
The high chair blessing (illustration)
WHATEVER YOU ARE IN NEED OF, GOD HAS ALREADY PROVIDED!
Everyday, you and I should recognize in our prayers today and verbally acknowledge our weakness and our dependence on God. We must praise Him for His provision.
GO DEEPER this week in your personal devotion.
God is our provider. Whether or not we recognize it, we’re dependent on Him each day to give us everything we need. When we pray like this daily, we acknowledge that God alone can fulfill all our needs and satisfy us. We also humbly acknowledge that we can’t provide for ourselves.
In His Model Prayer Jesus next told us that we should ask God to give us today our daily bread.
Why do you think Jesus told us this should be a daily request?
What are some ways you saw God provide everything you needed this week?
How might you pray differently when you’re convinced that your Father’s decisions are always best for you?
God can be trusted. We know this from our past experiences because He has given us everything we need. But we also know this because He has ultimately provided for our greatest need through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Pray that God will increase your faith so that you can trust Him for everything you need on a daily basis. Ask Him to give you a heightened sense of your need and His provision this week.
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