give us this day our daily bread

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he drew from the scriptures of his own tradition and people, and especially from the experience of Israel’s journey from slavery to the promised land. This journey took them through the wilderness, where they were forced to live in a daily dependence on God. God instructed the people to gather manna each day (Exodus 16. 4). When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we are taught to recover this biblical principle: That God provides for us, each day, enough for that day. This is sufficient. As God reminded the apostle Paul, “my grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12. 9). Again, God provides for us, each day, enough for that day. The grace of God is amazing. Today, I invite you to pray the Lord’s Prayer, and pause at this petition. It has a rich history, and yet it is as relevant as the dawning of this morning’s sunrise.

Give us this day our daily bread.