PRAYER – 3

Philippians 4:19

When Peter, James, and John asked Jesus for the one-two-threes of praying, Jesus said, “Whenever you pray, say, Father, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread ...” (Luke 11:2-3). Jesus directed them, and us, to pray to our Gracious and Loving Father, our Sovereign King, and to our Faithful Provider. “Give us each day our daily bread ...”

David knew God as his Faithful Provider. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need…” (Psalm 23:1).  “The Lord”(Jehovah-God) is the Good Shepherd who provides for His sheep.

Like David’s sheep, we are dumb, dirty, and defenseless, but we have a Good Shepherd who leads us to green pastures and still waters.

Abraham called God “Jehovah Jireh” (the Lord will provide) (Genesis 22:14) when God provided the “ram caught in the thicket” (Genesis 22:13) as the substitute sacrifice for Isaac, his beloved son.

Paul taught us to confidently pray for God’s provision. “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God… and my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”

(Philippians 4:6, 19). “God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

In America, our freezers are full, and our pantries are packed. To pray for a morsel of bread is foreign to many of us. If that’s true, we should be thankful. Remember, it was God who gave you that good job… it was God who provided you good health and an able mind and body… it was God who enabled you to put money in the bank… and it is always God who provides!

We mustn’t forget God’s faithfulness. So, let’s pray as the Lord instructed. “Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:9-11).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).