In our Bible study yesterday, we discussed the truth that the purpose of prayer is not to convince God to give us everything we want, but rather to change our hearts so that they reflect His. Even still, God does invite us to come to Him and share our needs. As our loving Heavenly Father, He cares about our needs, and we can trust Him to provide for us.
This week, we are examining what Jesus taught about prayer in Matthew 6. First, He taught His listeners to praise God, then He taught them to surrender their priorities to Him. Today, we will examine the next step Jesus taught about prayer: praying for provision. This is what He taught to say when praying for God's provision, "Give us today the food we need" (verse 11). With this teaching about prayer, Jesus invites us to ask God to provide for our daily needs, beginning with the most basic need of food. Notice that Jesus said, "give us today the food we need," not "give us the food we need for the week, month, or year." You see, God takes care of us every day. We do not have to worry about tomorrow. All we need to focus on is today; God will take care of the rest.
Later in Matthew 6, Jesus further illustrated His teaching that God will provide for us. He continued teaching the crowd in this passage of Scripture, saying, “So don’t worry…saying, “What shall we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father knows all your needs” (verses 31-32). God knows what we need and will provide for us, Jesus taught. He concluded His teaching about worry, saying, "So, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today" (verse 34). Because God knows our needs and takes care of us, we do not have to worry about tomorrow. All we have to focus on is this day.
What are you worried about today? What needs do you have? Bring them before God today. Talk to God about your needs. When you do, you will experience the unmatched peace that only comes from God.
Take time to pray today and present your needs before the Lord. Start your prayer saying, “I need…” Share your concerns, struggles, and needs with Him. He wants to hear them. As you present your requests to Him, thank Him that He can be trusted to provide for His people.
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
