Only two places in the New Testament does the original language use the word “daily”. Once in Matthew 6 and once in Luke 11, both are the Lord’s prayer. I like to think of the principle of this part of the prayer is that God will deliver or supply my daily needs, whatever those needs might be.
I’m reminded in this part of the prayer, I am called to have a commitment to dependence upon God. I am acknowledging God owns everything and I am simply managing what he’s given me. James, the half-brother of Jesus tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Heavenly Lights.
And Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6, after his prayer, worry about anything is holding on to something that belongs in God’s hands. But we’d rather be paralyzed by the potential of what might happen tomorrow rather than enjoy what God has given today. Life has a way of distracting us and causing us to focus on unnecessary frustrations.
But Jesus reminds us that God knows best. His plans are larger than my plans. God will give you what He knows you need today. Just depend on him.
Equally, we are called to a commitment of contentment. In his prayer, we are not praying for what we need for the next thirty years but what we need today. We will be content to ask for what we need right now.
Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “…true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” When we are happy for God to provide what we need, it moves us to satisfaction. When we are satisfied, we worry less and less about what we don’t have and are simply grateful for what we do have.
In John 6, Jesus called himself the Bread of Life. His prayer states, “give us today our daily bread”. Knowing that Jesus is the bread, my hope is that you and I will pray for Jesus to consume our lives. Truly, Jesus is the only thing that satisfies. He IS the Bread of Life. So take him in. Focus yourself on having Jesus as a part of your life so you’ll never go hungry or thirsty. In Jesus, we don’t really need anything else. In him, we’ll have the best life we could ever hope for. Blessings on the journey.