7 Days of Prayer, Day 5
Devotional
"Give us this day our daily bread"
So far in our prayer journey through what we know as the Lord's prayer, we have acknowledged God for who he is and what He is. We have undertaken to move into his kingdom and surrendered our will to his.
Today we finally get to ask him for something! Our daily bread. But was Jesus just talking about food for the day? Not if you take a deeper look at what bread means in the bible.
The manna that fed the Israelites for 40 years as they wandered in the desert was bread from heaven. It symbolized God's love, care and provision for his children, in spite of their sins. So our daily bread includes God's attention to our lives and our needs for survival.
The unleavened bread eaten at every passover since the first symbolizes the sacrifice that Jesus ultimately made for us. When we ask God to give us our daily bread, we are asking to be included as a beneficiary of Christ's sacrifice for our sins.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul likens bread to the fellowship and unity of the body of Christ. So when you ask the Father to give you your daily bread, you are asking for him to bind you ever more tightly to the body of Jesus - the church.
Finally, in John 6:35, Jesus said "I am the bread of life". Our prayer is asking God to fill us daily with Jesus!
So when you pray today, and repeat this phrase, tell God what that means to you.
Prayer
God, I pray that you would this day give me my daily bread. Father, when I humbly ask that, I am asking that you pour out your care and provision in my life. I need you today more than ever before, and I know that you are the source of all that I need. I thank you, Father, for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ, and the covering of my sins. I know that I am unable in myself to make myself holy and righteous. But the righteousness of your son, Jesus, is more than sufficient for me and I thank you for the covering that he has provided for my sins. Father, show me how to become more closely bound to my brothers and sisters in your body, the church and show me how to help it accomplish its mission in my community. Fill me today, Fahter, with your Spirit that came in the name of Jesus. Let that Holy Spirit take control and guide me in all that I do. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
John 6:32-40 (NKJV) 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
"Give us this day our daily bread"
So far in our prayer journey through what we know as the Lord's prayer, we have acknowledged God for who he is and what He is. We have undertaken to move into his kingdom and surrendered our will to his.
Today we finally get to ask him for something! Our daily bread. But was Jesus just talking about food for the day? Not if you take a deeper look at what bread means in the bible.
The manna that fed the Israelites for 40 years as they wandered in the desert was bread from heaven. It symbolized God's love, care and provision for his children, in spite of their sins. So our daily bread includes God's attention to our lives and our needs for survival.
The unleavened bread eaten at every passover since the first symbolizes the sacrifice that Jesus ultimately made for us. When we ask God to give us our daily bread, we are asking to be included as a beneficiary of Christ's sacrifice for our sins.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul likens bread to the fellowship and unity of the body of Christ. So when you ask the Father to give you your daily bread, you are asking for him to bind you ever more tightly to the body of Jesus - the church.
Finally, in John 6:35, Jesus said "I am the bread of life". Our prayer is asking God to fill us daily with Jesus!
So when you pray today, and repeat this phrase, tell God what that means to you.
Prayer
God, I pray that you would this day give me my daily bread. Father, when I humbly ask that, I am asking that you pour out your care and provision in my life. I need you today more than ever before, and I know that you are the source of all that I need. I thank you, Father, for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus Christ, and the covering of my sins. I know that I am unable in myself to make myself holy and righteous. But the righteousness of your son, Jesus, is more than sufficient for me and I thank you for the covering that he has provided for my sins. Father, show me how to become more closely bound to my brothers and sisters in your body, the church and show me how to help it accomplish its mission in my community. Fill me today, Fahter, with your Spirit that came in the name of Jesus. Let that Holy Spirit take control and guide me in all that I do. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
John 6:32-40 (NKJV) 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
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Who know that so much could be packed into a prayer that is only seven short phrases? But isn't that the way of Jesus? So much packed into a short life. So much packed into the things he said. Perhaps that's why he said that we would give an account for every idle word we speak. Lord, help us to become more efficient in spreading your love and compassion in our world!