“Give us this day our daily bread.”
— Matthew 6:11
In thinking through this week’s focus verse, I was reminded of a certain financially stressful season in my life. My wife and I have four children. Two of the four were in college at the time, and we were trying to figure out the equation to keep paying the bills while also keeping them in their classes. I recall going to the bank to cash in savings bonds we had been gifted when our children were young. I then sat in the parking lot, emotionally grateful, and said a prayer of thanksgiving with my wife for the bread that our Heavenly Father had freshly served that day — just the right amount to make it through the semester ahead.
Bread, in this context, is symbolic of the necessities of life. As God’s child, you can take great confidence in knowing that he sees you. He knows exactly where you are, and precisely how much bread you need today, tomorrow, and beyond.
I find it interesting that, later in the same chapter, Jesus encourages the listener:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
— Matthew 6:25–26
Throughout scripture, we see how God takes care of his people. In Psalm 37, David reinforces this with his own observation:
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”
— Psalm 37:25
God is the maker of the universe and is, therefore, not limited in resources. He willingly provides for his children.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…
— James 1:17
If you have specific needs, you are encouraged to take those to our Heavenly Father.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
—Philippians 4:6
I believe our Heavenly Father takes great pleasure when his children come to Him in such a manner, and he is faithful to respond.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
—Hebrews 10:23
Whatever your situation today, stay attuned. Look up and breathe deeply. The aroma of his daily bread for you is in the air. His sustenance will be served at just the right time.