A Prayer for Provision
By Emma Danzey
Matthew 6:11 says, "Give us this day our daily bread."
Smack dab in the middle of the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, Jesus is teaching his followers how to pray. After He has blessed the name of God the Father and shared his desire for the Lord's kingdom to come and will to be done, we find a few short yet powerful words: give us this day our daily bread. What about those with gluten allergies? No, this is not literal bread but spiritual bread from heaven. It is a phrase that is emphasizing relying on God's provision each day.
We are still called to this lifestyle of a follower of Jesus today. We are to be reliant on the Lord to meet our daily needs. We praise Him, we do our part in being faithful in our work, and we trust in Him to care for us. One of Jesus' I Am statements found in John 6:35 is when Jesus claimed to be the Bread of Life. In fact, the town of Bethlehem (Where Jesus was born) literally translates to mean "House of Bread." Jesus is the fulfillment of our greatest need for salvation and hope. He has already met every need. Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Let’s Pray:
Jesus,
Thank you for being the Bread of Life. Every day we need you. We need to know Your will, Your nearness, and Your love. We cannot spiritually survive without You. Thank You for saving us from the darkness and eternal death. Thank You for giving us eternal life. We never have to worry about the provision of salvation when we have accepted You as Savior. Thank You for the peace that comes with the way You care for us.
Today, I need you to help me remember you are my Provider in certain areas. Although I know that I am Yours forever, there are physical and emotional needs that I have today. Would You please meet me where I feel in need and hungry for You? I need Your care and protection. I need Your strength and endurance. Just as bread gives life, energy, and happiness, You, Jesus, do that for me more so.
Help me to hunger for Your righteousness. Give me a hunger for reading Your Word and understanding more of who You are. Forgive me for the times when I go to temporary fulfillment in worldly things and people who never fully satisfy. Remind me to keep You first in my life and depend upon You and not others. Thank You for the kindness and care that You have shown me in life.
God, I pray that You would provide for my loved ones today. Help my family and friends to fully lean on You and see You actively at work in their lives. Remind them to cling to You and trust in You. Help me to encourage them that You will care for their every need. Lord, I pray for those who are at a loss, who do not have good health, are struggling financially, or are dealing with loss. In these moments of brokenness, would you open their eyes to ways that You are providing for them even if they cannot physically see how? Give them hope that You are their Rock and firm foundation.
God, thank You for the many ways in which You have already provided for me. There have been so many times when You cared for me, and I did not even realize it or take the time to recognize You. Thank you for your continual presence, steadfast love, and guidance. Thank You for the ways You have provided people in my life in the right seasons to grow, for the ways you have provided community, and for the provision of the gift of being Your child. You have taken away my sins and made me white as snow. I am no longer a slave to my sin but a child of God, co-heir with Christ, and I am eternally free. I am grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross for me and the beautiful gift of provision. Amen.
Photo credit: ©SalemDesign/BethanyPyle
Emma Danzey's mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, inspiring young women to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew for over two years and mom to baby Graham. Drew and Emma serve with Upstate CRU college ministry in South Carolina. Emma is an avid writer for Salem Web Network and provides articles on the Bible, life questions, and on the Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 viewed article on Crosswalk for the year 2021. All the glory to the Lord! She had the joy of hosting Her Many Hats podcast where she explored the many roles that women play while serving One God. Most recently, Emma has released her first Bible Study Book, Wildflower: Blooming Through Singleness.
Emma enjoys singing/songwriting, fitness classes, trying new recipes, home makeover shows, and drinking tea! During her ministry career, Emma recorded two worship EP albums, founded and led Polished Conference Ministries, ran the Refined Magazine, and served in music education for early childhood. Emma also had the privilege of having been a national spokesperson for Mukti Mission based out of India. Mukti has been working to restore shattered lives in India for over 120 years. You can view her articles through her blog at emmadanzey.wordpress.com
Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week, she gives you practical, real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day, click below!
Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!
Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content.