Lord’s Day 50: Q&A 125: Everything We Need
When I was younger, I thought that asking God for Our Daily Bread meant that we were asking God to give us a loaf of sliced white bread. To an extent that can be true, but when we ask God for Our Daily Bread we are asking God to fully provide for our needs, both physical and spiritual.
I think of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. God provided them with manna and quail every day, even to the point of miraculously keeping them from spoiling on Friday so that the people would not have to work to gather their food on the Sabbath.
That dependency on God for everything is what we are asking for when we pray from this posture: That God would provide for us and sustain us. Not only that, we should be praying for God to provide and sustain all people all around the world. That seems especially pertinent as I write this with all the ridiculous cuts for aid funding around the world. As always, our prayer should motivate us to action as our wills are aligned with God’s. We need to fully depend on God and ask him not only for sustenance but to empower us to give sustenance to others.
Lord’s Day 50
Q&A 125
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Provider God, you have given us all we need. You sustain us as you sustain all of Creation by your loving care. Yet we confess that we rely on our own might to take care of ourselves. We do not fully rely on your providence, but instead strike out on our own thinking that we know best. Forgive us, Lord, for not trusting in you fully. Forgive us for hoarding what you have blessed us with instead of giving to each as they have need. Empower us, we pray, Holy Spirit, to seek your justice and providence for the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
(Time for silent confession)
Brothers and Sisters, God takes care of all our physical needs. He is our only source of everything good. Let us trust in him, knowing that through Jesus, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
CALL TO HOLY LIVING
Cast all your cares on God, for he provides for everything we need. Trust in him and him alone. Lean not on your own understanding nor on the work and effort of humans. Give up your trust in creatures and trust in God alone.
SENDING
Go now into the world, sustained and provided for by God. Go into the world to bring God’s providence to others, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for the downtrodden. Share what God has done for us with all who he puts in our lives. Go and bring God’s peace and providence to this fallen and needy world. Amen.
