Our Daily Bread (Devotional)

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread

Have you ever found yourself worrying about tomorrow? Whether it’s bills, food, or the future, we all face seasons where we wonder if we’ll have what we need. In Matthew 6, while teaching His disciples to pray, Jesus reminds us to ask the Father for our daily bread, a picture of God’s faithful provision.

This prayer takes us back to Exodus 16, when God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness.

Life in the desert was difficult, and soon the people began to complain, wishing they could return to Egypt, where food was plentiful. In response, God promised to “rain bread from heaven” (Exodus 16:4).

The next morning, when the dew lifted, there remained behind “a small round substance, as fine as frost… like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:14, 31).

God miraculously fed His people from heaven, reminding us that He is not only the Creator of the universe, but also our loving Father who cares for our daily needs.

Daily Bread = Daily Dependence

When we pray for our “daily bread,” we’re not only asking for food, we’re expressing our trust in God for everything we need:

• Physical needs: food, clothing, shelter.
• Emotional needs: peace, strength, and comfort.
• Spiritual needs: grace, mercy, and wisdom.

This prayer teaches us to release anxiety, let go of control, and rest in God’s provision.

Letting Go of Anxiety

When we are worried or anxious about the cares of this life, we become perpetually uneasy and distracted.

Worrying about tomorrow robs us of today’s peace. God knows what we need before we even ask. Instead of living in fear, we are invited to seek God’s kingdom first and trust that He will provide.

Matthew 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Contentment in God’s Provision

Proverbs 30:7-9 KJV
[7] Two things have I required of thee; Deny me them not before I die: [8] Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: [9] Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain.

Recently, I was at the grocery store when a young man picked up two large boxes of Pampers and ran out without paying. At that moment, this scripture came to mind. We don’t want a spirit of poverty which is not of God. Excessive Riches can also cause us to forget our dependence on God.

The Perfect balance is our daily bread; it helps us stay content and focused on God.

This isn’t just about food, it’s about clothing, shelter, and everything needed for life. God’s provision teaches us to rely on Him instead of placing our security in worldly measures.

Spiritual Perception Matters

Jesus connects provision and trust to spiritual perception.

Matthew 6:22-23 KJV

[22] The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. [23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness!

A clear eye reflects a heart aligned with God’s truth, filling our body with light. A bad eye represents spiritual blindness, distracting us from focusing on Jesus. Keeping our spiritual vision clear lets us see Jesus’s provision and promises. Let’s keep our eyes focused on Jesus and live in Daily Dependence.

How to Live in Daily Dependence

• Approach God with the heart of a child (Matthew 19).
• Ask God to provide what you need and trust His timing.
• Make your needs known to Him, knowing He will sustain you.
• Expect new mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
• Pray for contentment and protection from greed and envy.

When we depend on God daily, we experience His faithfulness in fresh, unexpected ways.

Reflection Questions

1. What “daily bread” do you need from God?
2. Do you trust God with today’s needs or worry about tomorrow?
3. How can you keep your spiritual vision clear and focused on God’s promises?

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your word, which gives us the spiritual food we need daily to walk in your ways. Father, give us our daily bread and all the essentials we need for this day, and help us pass from surviving to thriving when we build our lives on your precepts and depend on you. Deliver us from evil and order our steps in Jesus’ name, I pray AMEN!