A Prayer for the Meal You Have Today
The meal may be simple: leftovers, sandwiches, a pot of soup. Before eating, we can turn toward the Father with gratitude for what is before us and concern for those who need food today.
Give us today our daily bread.
(Matthew 6:11, NIV)
In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, the request for daily bread sits alongside honoring the Father, seeking His kingdom and will, asking forgiveness, and seeking deliverance from evil. Jesus brings ordinary bodily needs into a life of dependence on God.
Let the word “us” widen the table
We can thank God for today’s food in plain words. A short, sincere prayer is a good place to begin. Children can join by naming something they are thankful for.
The shared language of the prayer also gives us a way to remember our neighbors. Ask the Father to provide for people who face hunger, and consider a practical response within your means.
A local food pantry can tell you what is currently useful. You might offer a requested item, volunteer for an available task, or join an existing effort through your church.
If food is scarce in your own household, reaching out for help is a practical next step. The body of Christ has opportunities to care as people receive and share the provision available to them.
A prayer
Father, thank You for the food before us. Provide for those who need a meal today. Help us receive with gratitude, share with generosity, and follow Jesus in caring for our neighbors. Amen.
Read Matthew 6:5-15 in the NIV.
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As we thank God for our daily bread, we can make room to care for our neighbors.
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