In teaching His apostles how to pray, Jesus told them not to “heap up empty phrases.” The subsequent model was, then, quite succinct. Jesus’ brief invocation included adoration for Who God is, He expressed His desire for God to act according to His will, He showed the apostles how to repent of sin and He asked for protection from the Evil One.
There was one more part to the prayer. In the middle of it was a request that the Father, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Of course, the request for bread was not an appeal exclusively for a quality loaf of sourdough. It was a petition that God would provide for all their physical needs.
This teaching took place at the front end of Jesus’ public ministry. When He prayed for them that day, He knew there were many miles yet to be traveled, numerous lodging arrangements to be made and a great number of meals to be eaten. However, you’ll notice that Jesus did not ask God to provide sandals they would need in the coming months. He did not ask for acceptable places to sleep over the next couple years. He did not concern Himself with the potential for experiencing hunger in the following week. Jesus said, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
No one can accuse Jesus of failing to plan, yet His request was that the Lord would give them what was needed for that day. This is instructive. In giving God glory, calling for His will to be done, seeking forgiveness and asking for protection there were no timeframes. Only in regard to physical needs was there an interval of time referenced. “Give us this day our daily bread.”
In one sentence Jesus demonstrated faith and contentment. Just a few verses later He says:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ (Mt. 6:25–31)
There is the balance. Separated by only eleven verses is the request that God would provide for their physical needs and Jesus’ instruction that you should not be anxious about your physical needs. Jesus acknowledged that those needs are real, but He does not dwell on them. In faith He asks God to provide them and with an attitude of contentment He says that the Father loves His children so it’s a done deal. Stop worrying about it.
Does that characterize your perspective about physical needs? Do your requests focus on receiving what you need today so you can live faithfully for Him, or do you find that you spend more time praying about (worrying about) the future? Again, just a couple verses later Jesus concluded His instruction about faith and contentment with God’s promise of provision. He told them, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Mt. 6:34).
Jesus did not “wing it” and that is not His instruction to you. Physical needs are real, but they are not ultimate. He lodged His request for them but within limits. Specifically, His request was to receive everything He needed for the day. I challenge you to narrow your requests for physical provision to today. Ask for the things you need so that you can faithfully serve Him in this day. Then choose not to be anxious and, instead, to be content.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Ps. 84:11–12)