Thursday October 13, 2022

Today is Thursday, October 13 and we are studying the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter six.

As I enter a time of prayer, I quiet my mind, slow my breathing and focus myself – body, mind and spirit on the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, I long to hear your voice! Speak to me and help me comprehend the wisdom and guidance you want to share with my soul. Open the ears of my heart to receive truth and gain understanding. Amen.

I praise God for his unending goodness and rejoice with the words of Psalm 145.

They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:11-13

Pause and Pray

As I begin to pray the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus taught, I am first invited into the Father’s presence and then make three admonitions about God and His glory. First, His name is to be hallowed. That means I long for His name, His character and His very being to have top place in the world and in people’s hearts including my own. I proclaim, Father, You have the top place in my life and I adore you. Second, I pray for God’s kingdom to come, for His kingly rule to control my life, to order the lives of the people around me and ultimately the entire world. I pray that the gospel spreads to unbelievers and changes hearts to God. This is the only true cure for what ails the brokenness and sinsick diseases of the world. Third, I pray for His will to be done.

This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:9-1

I begin prayer time with the adoration of God praising Him and His glory and then I pray for myself. I ask my heavenly Father for my daily bread. In a way, my “bread” contains all my needs. Daily bread indicates a continual supply of everything God knows I need – physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, relational, financial. All of me. My daily bread is physical sustenance, yet it is much more – God provides sustenance for life. Just like the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16), God provides me exactly what I need for today and I can trust Him for tomorrow. One day at a time I will have enough – whether it is food, shelter, strength, patience, love, time, courage, companionship, whatever I need.

Ask: What would I define as my daily bread for today? Am I able to trust God to supply me with enough of what I need the most?

Pause and Pray

Loving Father, I know You hear me when I spend time with You in secret and bow my head in Your presence. May Your kingdom come on this earth and may Your will be done in my life. Father, You know precisely what I need before I even ask You. You know what today’s bread needs to be for me – supply me Lord, I trust in You. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:9-11

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God wants to reveal new insights into this ancient prayer this morning. Whatever it is for me today, I address my loving Father in heaven knowing that His love is steadfast and He is forever faithful. Whichever word or image stands out to me this morning, I will carry it throughout my day, write it in my journal and pray for God’s revelation to find me over the course of my activities. I will be attentive to how God is at work around me and wait to receive the good bread He supplies.

Pause and Pray

Father God, I invite You into the circumstances and situations of my daily life. Awaken the hunger of my soul and show me the spiritual bread you are able to provide. Remind me that when I spend quality time with you during the day, my needs are fulfilled and you continually restore the joy and peace of my soul. Amen.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:32-35

This morning I have tasted the sweetness of my promised daily bread. I go for God to use me to supply the daily bread of others, whatever that may be.

Amen