Jesus taught his disciples, when they asked for direction, how to pray and we call it "The Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 1:2-4). In the prayer that many of us know by heart, we pray the line "Give us this day our daily bread." Here again we are looking to our Great Provider to take care of our physical needs.
In today's verse of thanks, Jesus is praying to His Father for provision for a crowd that had gathered. With them they brought their lame, blind, crippled, mute and many others to be healed with His miraculous power. Jesus told his disciples that He had compassion on the people for they had been following him for 3 days and have had nothing to eat. Jesus gathered food from his disciples.
"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people." Matthew 15:36
This is the story of Jesus feeling the 4000. Yes, the 4000, not the 5000. Did you know that Jesus performed this amazing food stretching miracle more than once? The feeding of the 5000 occurs earlier in His ministry also with bread and fish. I love how this miracle plays out. They start with no food and thousands to feed. They ask for donations and receive 7 loaves and a few, let's say 3, small fish. Jesus breaks it; touches the food and prays. Then not only satisfies the crowd's hunger, they collect LEFTOVERS - - 7 basketfuls of broken pieces.
This overwhelming act of love and provision comes only from the hands of Jesus. I see it all the time. When I am in God's will and focus on His strength and guidance in situations He knocks my socks off with tangible answers to prayers. Many times He provides before I even put my needs to prayer... and gives me EXTRAS.
God doesn't just provide for my physical needs with "daily bread," He provides for my spiritual needs with the "daily bread" of His Word. God has graciously grown me into a very prayerful woman. I have experienced the power of prayer very tangibly in my life. And more recently, He has added the even more powerful craving to my days - reading and meditating on His Word. I've found it more satisfying than food for my well-being.
In recent ministry pursuits, God has been SO THERE, so obviously blessing our efforts I can't stop repeating Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." And John 10:10b "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Just today I came across this version of a very familiar Proverb that describes how God loves to give us our "daily bread" and then some. "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:6 TLB (The Living Bible). When I get my spiritual bread through connecting with God each day, He crowns my efforts with success!... for my good and His glory!
God is good. So good. He provides for our every need... as long as we come to Him and ask and trust that He will come through for us. I am humbled to no end how loving our Heavenly Father is. I am so thankful that He cares for my physical needs with food, shelter and clothing and for my spiritual needs with His continuous presence and His Holy Word.
Pray for your daily bread at meals - certainly. But don't forget to get your fill (and then some) from His Word each day as well. You will be so incredibly blessed for your obedience in connecting with The Great Provider, you will surely thank Him for this spiritual bread that will change and shape you into who He created you to be through daily relationship with Him.
"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b
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