How many times have I read and quoted The Lord’s Prayer throughout my lifetime? Let me answer my own rhetorical question. Countless times. And yet I read it with fresh eyes and heart last week. Fresh eyes. Fresh heart. God’s word is ALIVE. And it meets us right where we are. Thank you, Jesus.
Luke 11:2-4 – And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
Give us each day our daily bread…
Give us each day what we need to sustain us and keep us going. Give us each day our portion. Take care of us today. Today.
And it hit me. He doesn’t want us to start storing up worry, or anxiety, or “what ifs” for tomorrow. Remember manna? God provided this “what is it?” for the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. They gathered what they needed every day and they were satisfied. But when they got greedy or anxious about tomorrow and gathered too much manna it became “wormy and smelled bad.” (Exodus 16:20)
He gives us what we need for today. Faith and hope. Joy. Peace and patience. He not only meets our physical needs for TODAY but He meets our spiritual and emotional needs as well. And with that provision comes His admonishment to not take on today what was meant for tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34) We mustn’t take on worry, anxiety, and restlessness nor are we to play the WHAT IF game. Don’t pick up the extra manna. Leave it. God has a plan and He is sovereign. We don’t know what tomorrow holds BUT GOD. He longs for us to be totally dependent on Him, trusting Him for TODAY and leaving tomorrow to Him.
So… that thing that is gnawing at you right now and causing you to lose sleep. Give it to Jesus. He sees you and He will provide for you in His perfect timing. Find JOY in the journey TODAY. Take the bread of today and thank God for His provision.
“If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others.” Oswald Chambers