Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread - Attaching to Our Father Through the Lord's Prayer

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread…’” (Matthew 6:9-11, ESV)

So far, in these reflections on the Lord’s Prayer we’ve been looking at who the Father is—the one who repairs our ruptures.

But what exactly are the ruptures that our Father is repairing?

Jesus teaches us to bring before our Father three kinds of ruptures that need repair:

• The ruptures of our basic needs (self and body)
• The ruptures in our relationships (others and intimacy)
• And the ruptures we encounter in the world (the world and independence)

Our Father is repairing the ruptures, gaps, and lacks in our most basic needs—our physical, bodily, and nutritional needs.

Our Father cares about the basics, like these:

• Do I have enough to eat today?
• Do I have a place to sleep today?
• Do I have clothes to keep me warm or cool today?
• Do I have a place where I’m protected today?

In a real sense, this all about our bodies.

Our Father in heaven is concerned about our bodies here on earth. Our Father, like an attuned caregiver, cares about repairing our physical distress.

But what if—on the whole—your body has what it needs?

What if—today—you don’t have physical or material distress?

If you are blessed with the bounty of having your physical, material, and nutritional needs provided for, then you should pray on behalf of those who don’t have them today.

This is why the us and our are so important in the Lord’s Prayer.

Just like when we pray to our Father, we also pray for our daily bread. We are part of a family bigger than just our individual selves. This prayer helps us remember that we share the world with other people. And some (many) aren’t doing as well as we are.

So to pray to our Father for our daily bread (even if your daily bread is already taken care of) is to join him in the work of repairing the ruptures of physical distress in the lives of others.

AS YOU PRAY…

Today, as you pray the way Jesus taught us, think about these questions:

• What are your physical, material, and nutritional needs today? Are you bringing those needs to our Father today? If not, talk to our Father about what is keeping you from bringing those things to him.
• If your physical, material, and nutritional needs for today are already provided for, talk to our Father about God providing for the needs others. And ask how you might be able to partner with our Father in repairing those ruptures.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:

• Matthew 6:25-34
• Psalm 65:9-13