A Prayer for the Meal You Have Today

A short prayer to say before breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with a reflection on Matthew 6:5–15.

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 Matthew 6:5–15, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray to their Father without performing for an audience or relying on many words. “Daily bread” names our everyday need for food. 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.

Thank God for food and remember people who need it

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.

Before offering a meal to someone, ask whether they would like it, what they can eat, and when delivery would help. 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 before eating

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.

This is an original Modern Burlap prayer, not a quotation from the Bible. Use it as written or pray in your own words.

Praying with children

Before praying, you can ask, “What would you like to thank God for today?” A child might name the food, the person who cooked, or a friend who shared lunch. Let the answer be simple. Children can listen until they are ready to join in.

You might begin with one sentence together: “Thank You, God, for our food.” A meal does not need to become a test of how eloquently anyone can pray.

Read Matthew 6:5-15 in the NIV.

Keep reading: Letting Hospitality Fit Your Real Home · How to Build Family Traditions That Point to Jesus.

Free prayer artwork

The image below includes the complete original prayer above. Save it to read before a meal or print it for personal use. No purchase or sign-up is required.

Open the full-size prayer artwork · Save the prayer on Pinterest