Daily Word
Prepared By: Suzy Naber
Part four: Give us today our daily bread
This fourth part of the Lord's Prayer contains a major principle of prayer which is asking God for the supply of our daily needs. God has promised to "supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
The major precept of prayer is asking. God will never do things without us asking Him to do it. Remember men rejected God and disobeyed him, so God will never interfere in man's life unless He is asked to do so. It is true that it says "for your Father knows what you need before you ask him", but "Ask and it shall be given to you….. For everyone who asks receives…" James wrote in 4:3 "You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasure". So you have to ask and ask with right motives.
Paul commands us to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) since "in Him we live and move and have our being".
We should never try to have our needs met independently of God. The Bible says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5-7) and …. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord."
Many people blame God for any disastrous circumstance in their lives. They walk in ungodly ways and refuse to suffer the consequences, but instead blame God for it. God is not responsible for any immorality or evil of this world. The Bible says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows". (James 1:17) James explains in his letter, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me'. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, give birth to death." (James 1:13-15) So evil and sin are not from God. We are responsible for our acts and should bear the consequences of our acts.
Another major principle of prayer is to ask in the name of Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" and in John 16:23 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name".
Another important key for "Give us today our daily bread" is to pray for others as well. We must remember that "Us" means to pray for our beloved ones as well as "on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). When we pray we are not praying for ourselves alone, but rather for people as well.
The greatest gift we can give to anyone is Prayer. Of course it is important to help giving food and clothes and a place to live, but material things are temporary, but our prayers for another person can affect them for a lifetime. Amen.
Scriptures to read: Letter of James
Prayers: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus help me to be a blessing for others around me. Teach me to pray for others and show me how I can serve my family, my friends and all those that you have put in my live. I don’t want to get so wrapped up in my own life that I don’t' see the opportunity to help and pray for others. Make me to be one of your faithful intercessors, and teach me how to pray in power. Help me to make a big difference in this world through my prayers. Amen.
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