There were these two boys who lived with their Grandma. As they were about to go to bed, they knelt down first to say their prayers. The older prayed about the day he had and about everything he had done. When he finished, the younger boy began his prayer, but he prayed much louder than his brother. He was almost shouting as he prayed for bikes and toys and candy and everything he could think of. When he finished the older brother asked him “Why are you praying so loud? God is not deaf.” The younger boy responded and said ” Yeah, I know, but Grandma is!”

The fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer is the only one that has to do with physical blessings, material, earthly needs: Give us this day our daily bread. “Daily bread” means everything that we need to support this body and life. And God is concerned about that. He wants us to come to Him about everything. He made you as physical beings, so He knows your needs, and He promises to provide. He hears you.

When I pray these words – Give us this day our daily bread – I am reminded of the abundant and bountiful provision of God, how incredibly blessed I am, and the need for me to share those blessings with others.

One problem many have here is they seem to think that God should also provide for all of their desires, which is another thing altogether. We look around and see what others have and wonder why we don’t have as much. Instead of rejoicing when we see our neighbor prosper, we become jealous. That is why this petition is so important for us to pray sincerely:  give us this day our daily bread. These words remind us that God provides for us and cares for us. He has already given us the most important thing we need: forgiveness of sins and eternal life! He did that by sending Jesus to do what we could not – live a perfect life and then offer that life as the payment for the sins of everyone. On top of that most wonderful and necessary blessing of all, He gives us our daily bread whether we ask for it or not! The point of this part of the Lord’s Prayer is that we recognize God as our Provider and receive His gifts with gratitude.

Proverbs 30:8-9 ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Something else is significant in this request. Jesus did not teach us to pray: “Give me my daily bread.” He taught us to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.”  When offering this petition we have the needs of others, as well as our own needs, in mind.  An unknown poet reminds us that our concern in praying for daily bread should be for more than just ourselves:

You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “I.”
You cannot pray the Lord’s Prayer and even once say “My.”
Nor can you pray the Lord’s Prayer and not pray for one another.
And when you ask for daily bread, you must include your brother.
For others are included … in each and every plea,
From the beginning to the end of it, it doesn’t once say “Me.”

One more observation: It is not wrong for us to ask for more than what we need for our daily needs. We can ask Him for anything and everything. We commit our needs to Him. And that should be done in the spirit of understanding that if He decides to give us daily bread and nothing more, we should be content. We ought to strive for the attitude described by St. Paul:

Phil 4:11-13  I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.