When we think about prayer, we often view it as a way to ask God for what we need. But what if there’s something deeper happening when Jesus taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread”? This familiar phrase from the Lord’s Prayer isn’t just about physical provision—it’s about developing a radical trust in God that transforms how we live.
Video:
Audio only
Why Relationships Require Vulnerability
Close relationships always involve risk. When we truly know someone, we become vulnerable to them. They know our weaknesses, our embarrassing moments, and our deepest fears. Yet in healthy relationships, this vulnerability doesn’t create fear—it creates safety. We trust that the person who knows us best won’t use that knowledge against us.
This same principle applies to our relationship with God. True intimacy with Him requires vulnerability, but it also creates an incredible sense of peace and security.
How Prayer Builds Deep Relationship with God
The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just a template of different topics to cover in prayer. Each part flows together, building toward a deeper relationship with God. When we pray “Our Father,” we acknowledge our relationship as His children. When we “hallow His name,” we celebrate who God is. When we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” we submit to His lordship over our lives.
What Jesus Meant by “Daily Bread”
When Jesus spoke about food throughout His ministry, He often used it as a metaphor for something deeper. In John 4, He told His disciples, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” This wasn’t about physical hunger—it was about spiritual sustenance.
What Can We Learn from the Manna in the Wilderness?
When Jesus taught about daily bread, His Jewish audience would have immediately thought of manna—the bread from heaven that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness. God provided this food daily, but with specific instructions: gather only what you need for today. Don’t try to hoard it or store it up.
This was a lesson in trust. God was teaching His people to rely on Him one day at a time, rather than trying to secure their own future through stockpiling resources.
How Jesus Connects Food and Faith
In John 6, after Jesus fed the 5,000, crowds followed Him hoping for more miraculous meals. But Jesus redirected their focus from physical bread to spiritual bread. He declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
What Does It Mean That Jesus Is Our Daily Bread?
When Jesus calls Himself the bread of life, He’s saying that He is our true sustenance. Just as our bodies need daily food to survive, our souls need daily connection with Jesus to thrive. He is what keeps us going from day to day—not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally.
Why Daily Bread Connects to God’s Kingdom
The prayer doesn’t separate “Your kingdom come” from “give us daily bread.” They’re connected. God’s will is that everyone would come to know Him. When we pray for daily bread while submitting to His kingdom, we’re essentially saying: “God, I want to be part of Your mission to reach others. Give me what I need to serve You in this way.”
What Does Radical Trust Look Like?
Jesus taught this principle right after the Lord’s Prayer: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This is radical trust—believing God so deeply that we’re willing to prioritize His kingdom over our own security. It means trusting Him with our careers, our finances, and our futures as we pursue His will.
How Deep Relationship Enables Radical Trust
The deeper our relationship with God grows, the more we can trust Him in radical ways. We begin to understand that when He calls us to step out in faith—whether that’s serving others, giving generously, or sharing our faith—He will provide what we need to accomplish His purposes.
What’s the Connection Between Trust and Mission?
When we pray “give us this day our daily bread” in the context of seeking God’s kingdom, we’re not just asking for personal provision. We’re saying: “God, You’re calling me to be part of reaching others. I trust You to give me everything I need—resources, abilities, courage—to do what You’re asking me to do.”
This kind of prayer requires vulnerability. It means admitting we can’t do it on our own and trusting God to handle the details while we focus on obedience.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to pray “give us this day our daily bread” not just as a request for provision, but as an expression of radical trust. Consider one area where God might be calling you to step out in faith—whether it’s serving others, being more generous, or sharing your faith with someone. Instead of worrying about how it will work out, trust God to provide what you need as you seek His kingdom first.
Ask yourself these questions:
- In what areas of my life am I trying to “hoard manna” instead of trusting God daily?
- How might God be calling me to participate in His mission to reach others?
- What would radical trust in God look like in my current circumstances?
- Am I more focused on my own security or on seeking God’s kingdom?
Remember, deep relationship with God leads to radical trust. As you grow closer to Him, you’ll find the courage to rely on Him in ways that might seem risky to the world but are actually the safest place you can be.