The Lord's Prayer RevisitedExemplo

"God's Provision"

In Luke 11:3, Jesus sets the guidelines for a lifestyle that many modern, prosperity-driven Christians are uncomfortable accepting: the notion of complete and total dependence on God for all of our physical and financial needs. (The original Greek translation of this portion of the Lord’s Prayer described it as “our daily bread.”) Jesus explains the full extent of what such absolute trust in God’s provision looks like in Matthew 6:25-34.

The call to live a God-dependent lifestyle is a sentiment echoed again and again throughout Scripture. We witness it in action as the Israelites wander the wilderness, leaning – sometimes begrudgingly – on God for all their physical needs. (Deuteronomy 2:7) Trust in God’s provision is the very essence of King David’s most famous psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) And the understanding that “God will meet all [our] needs” (Philippians 4:19) is further reaffirmed by Paul in his epistle to the church at Philippi.

Still, we struggle to submit. In our quest for financial security and full bellies, we have a tendency to second-guess God and His provision. (Matthew 6:24) God knows we have this tendency, and He forgives us. Ultimately, though, He wants us to get to a place in our lives where we are willing to forego the “rat race” and make do, for better or worse, with what He provides. (Philippians 4:11-13)