Apostolic Friends Forum - Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

This phrase that Jesus taught to the disciples came to mind today as I prayed. It encouraged me, and I wish to share it, hoping it will encourage someone as it did me.

Many times our prayers are focused on events that are in the future, things that we are worried about tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next year. Many times we are praying for things that can't be answered today, but remain to be answered at some time in the future.

As I prayed I was reminded that Jesus taught his disciples to pray "Give us this day our daily bread". I'm sure that this can be interpreted in many different ways, but to me - today - its meaning was that I can feast today on the bread He has provided for today, for the blessings I have today, and for the answers I receive today, and that is enough. I should not ask for more, or for less. I should be content with what the Lord has provided me with for today, and not borrow trouble from tomorrow, next week, or next year.

When we become content with things such as we have today, there will come a peace beyond understanding, a peace that the disciples of Jesus demonstrated. They lived in peace, regardless of what circumstance they found themselves in, content with the daily bread the Lord had provided. This contentment, and peace afforded them great gains for the kingdom of heaven, because they weren't borrowing trouble from tomorrow, but they were resting, abiding, and thankful for their portion today.

I prayed... Lord - let me be content with the bread you have afforded me today, with such as I have - let me be content. Let me rest in your sufficiency today, and not worry about what tomorrow may hold. May I be content with the blessings you have provided today. May I rest today in the assurance that tomorrow is safe in your hands, just as today is. I may not know what tomorrow holds, but you do. May there be peace in my heart and my life today because your daily bread is sufficient for me.

Matt. 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Amen.