The Lord’s Prayer Concerns Our Needs
The Lord’s Prayer first focuses on God’s holiness, majesty, and sovereignty. It starts with worship, and our acknowledging who He is. It expresses our obedience or submission and willingness for His will to be done in our lives. It does not end there. It does not ignore our own needs and concerns. On the contrary, Christ instructed His disciples to present their requests to their heavenly Father.
First, Jesus instructs them to ask for their physical needs and “give us our daily bread.” This means it is ok to ask that your daily needs be met. Whether you need physical healing, to pay your electric bill or guidance for your next career move. God is a good Father and he wants to provide for all your needs. God is there to help you.
Matthew 6:11 “Give us today our daily bread.”
Jesus regularly encourages us to ask, seek, and knock. The Lord assured us that we would be rewarded for our boldness. He told the parable of a poor widow persistently asking for something from the unjust judge. Even though the judge was unwilling, he gave her what she wanted because she wore him down. Jesus explained that our heavenly Father is ready and willing to grant our requests.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”
Jesus said that God wants to answer our prayers so that we will have complete joy. This is the kind of Father that we are privileged to have. Christ said that even our earthly, evil parents give good gifts to their children. Our heavenly Father is more eager and able to answer our prayers because He is good.
John 16: 24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
Another truth is hidden in Christ’s instruction of asking for bread daily. Requesting something we need for one day expresses both trust and contentment. We do not need to look into the future and worry. We can trust God. We believe in His character and know He will supply our needs and desires today and every day. We need to rely on God daily and trust that He will provide.
Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Today’s prayer: Father God, thank you that you want to provide for our daily needs. Help us remember that you won the cattle on a thousand hills, and there is nothing that you can’t provide for us. Lord, help us to come to you daily for our provision, and remember that our needs are met by communing with you daily.
