I love when the Lord uses the simplest of things to reveal the profoundest of truths…as He did this morning while visiting my parents’ church.
A man sang a beautiful, solemn version of The Lord’s Prayer–one of my favorite songs–familiar words we’ve spoken thousands of times. And yet, as soon as he sang the words, “Give us this day, our daily bread”…tears welled up in my eyes.
“How often I’m not content with daily bread?”
Daily bread means food, yes, but all throughout Scripture it has also referred to Jesus Himself as the Bread of Life, the Living Word. Is He enough for me today? Am I content with today’s promise, today’s grace? Or do I waste it on my fears of tomorrow?
He told us to ask for daily bread. But we want yearly bread, or at least monthly bread, both in the physical and the spiritual sense. We want God to show us what’s ahead, to promise us security for the future–but that’s not what He wants.
Remember the children of Israel and the manna? He provided it daily. He told them to gather only a day’s worth. They still tried to save it, for tomorrow, just in case He forget, or didn’t come through. The manna decayed overnight–all that work, wasted.
Think about the heavy burdens we put on ourselves trying to figure out tomorrow? We don’t believe Him, that He’ll provide exactly what we need for then. We let fear of things that aren’t even here yet consume our thoughts today.
But He provided for today! Why don’t we believe Him for tomorrow? He will bring the grace, the strength, the peace, the wisdom we need when we need it. If we spend what He has given us for today on tomorrow we don’t live today well.
There is something to be said about living “one day at a time”…God said it. If we are to live the life He wants for us, we must be content with our daily bread.
12 comments
What can I say I am so not good at this.
I so wish I could just let go and let God be God in this area as I do in others.I know he will provide he always has even when I couldn’t see the way, he provided bigger, better, and more than I could have hoped for yet still I worry what tomarrow holds.I so long for Jesus to come and take us home.
thank you! I can’t believe you posted this tonight of all nights. I REALLY NEEDED THIS ONE!
thank you…
It’s funny how we look at scripture and can use it in our lives in so many different ways. I have been looking at ‘daily bread’ and talking about how I’m not satisfied in the food sense – always eating more than I ever need.
It is a Truth that can hit us in a lot of areas – what we do with that Truth is what can make a difference in our lives. God has been working on me to make that change. Thanks for showing me I’m not alone in the challenge!
AMEN! I struggle so much with worrying about tomorrow… It never gives us more strength for today it only weakens us. God is a “day by day God”, a “step by step God”. So often He told His followers in the old testament “Go that way…” that was it. One step at a time He leads us. We need to trust Him with each step and trust Him that He knows what lies ahead and that’s enough. thanks for the post!
Hi Kelly,
This is the first time I’ve commented on your blog—this post was just what I needed to hear this morning. The Lord truly does provide exactly what we need, regardless of whether WE think it’s what’s best, and he doesn’t overload us with what won’t be able to handle.
Years back, I remember a youth pastor describing people who want to control tomorrow has having their fists clenched around their plans as tightly as possible. However, what God desires is for us to open our hands so our plans are malleable for God to use and sculpt. I definitely struggle with this challenge, but what a relief to unclench our fists 🙂
Praying for your pregnancy,
C
Dose of Joy,
So good to “meet” another reader!
Thankyou so much for posting this. As a young girl I know that sometimes I can get so caught up in what will happen tomorrow that I forget about today and to be thankful for all that God has done for me. God has given me what I needed and carried me through today and yesterday, so why should I not be content to trust God with tomorrow.
Very good. Thanks for posting the reminder.
This was an excellent post! Trusting more on God and less on my own strength is something that I struggle with constantly. I liked how you compared the situation of the Israelites with their situation of the manna with our “daily bread.” What a great comparison! Thanks for sharing this wonderful insight with us (smiles).
“If we are to live the life He wants for us, we must be content with our daily bread.”
So true, yet I never thought of it that way. Thanks for the great word!
Thank you for this reminder. You are right, He does promise to provide and I know that sometimes I let my fears about the unknown future paralyze me, instead of walking forward confidently in faith.
“Think about the heavy burdens we put on ourselves trying to figure out tomorrow? We don’t believe Him, that He’ll provide exactly what we need for then. We let fear of things that aren’t even here yet consume our thoughts today.”
I am putting this quote as the background of my desktop. It is something that I really need to hear. Thanks for this post-