Give us this day our daily bread. The past weeks in The Lord's prayer have been about orientation: Basically how God is God and we are not. This week we begin to transition into petitions. Asking for what we need. But what does"daily bread" really mean? Could it be literal, like the daily manna in the Old Testament? Or could it be poetic? Or maybe it's figurative?
Here's what we DO know: The disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them many things. How to heal. Or perform other types of miracles. Or perhaps how to attract a crowd. Theologian and author Eugene Peterson suggests the excitement of being part of a crowd is one of our culture's prolific addictions. However, the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. Pastor Adam spoke some bold words: "Prayer is as important as anything you will do in your lifetime." How important is prayer in your life and schedule? Do you even desire prayer? Is it part of your "daily bread?" Is it food and sustenance for your soul like it was for Jesus?
Jesus didn't just leave the disciples (and us) the words to a prayer. He also left us a lifestyle example. Scripture is full of examples of Jesus getting away to "lonely places" (Luke 5:16) and quiet places where he could be alone with his father (see also Luke 6:12; and 9:18). This is how Christ recharged. This is how he refueled. This was his self care and soul care. He knew he needed it and could not function well without it. Prayer was not a duty or a task. It was a privilege....one that was highly desired in order to sustain him during his earthly journey. If Jesus needed time away with his father to refuel, do you really think you and I are any different?
What is your "daily bread?" Does it include recharging time with your heavenly father? What gets in the way of quiet and focused time with God in prayer? Might there be an invitation from God regarding prayer this week? Could there be a tug on you regarding prayer that is coming from God? If it feels like shame it is not from God. God's invitations are a gentle nudge and a drawing into himself. Are you feeling drawn to more alone times with God?
INVITATION: Pastor Adam taught this week on "daily bread living." The elements we will dig into are: 1) Living with Gratitude; 2) Living with Confidence; 3) Living with Contentment, and; 4) Living with Generosity.
MONDAY: Deut. 8:10; I Chron. 29:14: Even secular research is replete with examples of how healthy and helpful a practice of gratitude is. The Bible has may examples and reminders to us of "remembering" and not forgetting the faithfulness of God. In the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses declared to the Israelites that God is eager to bless them. Consider your own life of blessings. Have any tempted you to forget your need for God? Have you forgotten what life was like without God? How can your memory of God's deliverance in the past enhance your thankfulness today? How can you fully enjoy God's blessings without losing sight of the One who provided them? How might gratitude become part of your "daily bread" living this week? As you (like David in the Chronicles verse) think of the "everything" God has provided in your life, how might you pray and express gratitude to God today?
TUESDAY: Matthew 6:33-34: Righteousness doesn't come naturally or passively to us. In fact it is something we are told to seek FIRST, along with God's kingdom. What are your primary pursuits? What do you value most? What do you think about as you lie awake at night or drive down the road in the middle of the day? What aspect of your life occupies most of your energy? How does your life reflect your desire to seek GOD'S kingdom and experience his righteousness? How might confidence in God's provisions become part of your daily rhythm in prayer? Pastor Adam pointed out that the original word for "daily" is only used twice in Scripture. It is for gratitude for what God provides and for confidence in what God WILL provide. What might your days, weeks, months and years begin to look like if you began living into these daily rhythms of gratitude and confidence?
WEDNESDAY: Hebrews 5:7 & 2 Corinthians 12:8-9: God provides for our needs, not our greeds. Prayer is not a wish list. Pastor and author Tim Keller says: "God will only give you what you would have asked for if you knew everything he knows." How might you rest in the space of not knowing and trusting God more this week? Do you believe God is trustworthy? Do you believe God can use even weakness? Is there something in your life you might need to accept rather than fight against?
THURSDAY: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11: Notice in the Lord's Prayer the wording is OUR daily bread. It is not MY daily bread. God generously provides to you SO THAT you can share. It is a matter of stewardship. "It is not enough to help the poor. We must help them with generosity and without grumbling. And it is not enough to help them without grumbling. We must help them gladly and happily. When the poor are helped there ought to be these two conditions: generosity and joy.... By showing great joyfulness you will succeed in enabling your brother or sister to overcome their sensitivity. They will understand that in your opinion receiving is just as beautiful as giving. By showing bad temper, on the other hand, far from cheering them up you will be depressing them even further. If you give gladly, even if you give only a little, it is a big gift. If you give unwillingly, even if you give a big gift, you turn it into a small one." John Chrysostom in"On the letter to the Romans." How are you doing making generosity as part of your daily rhythm?
FRIDAY: Luke 6:38: Daily Bread Living basically means this: believing God is good and will give you what you need, when you need it, how you need it, so that you can share it. Which element of this way of living do you need the most help with today? We are NOT left alone: We have the Holy Spirit. How might you spend time in prayer for the help you need for "daily bread living?"