Bread or Dessert?

During the pandemic, how many of your kitchens were overtaken by the sourdough bread baking craze? We all thought, "You know, I never really had time to learn how to bake bread, but now I have time on my hands, a reluctance to go to the grocery store, and access to YouTube videos; what's my excuse?" We were so enthusiastic that the baking aisles were left desolate. Yeast, sugar, and flour were hard to find. The smell of freshly baked bread encouraged us to share. We shared our starters as well as extra loaves with our neighbors. It was a beautiful illustration of the Lord answering His prayer, "Give us today our daily bread." 

Every culture has bread. It might be a roll, loaf, pita, or tortilla. In the first century, bread had no preservatives, so it did not save beyond a day. Daily bread means all of God's provision for the coming day. Bread encompasses our basic needs: food, shelter, and companionship. So, "give us today our daily bread" is a prayer about daily dependence. Daily can be applied to the whole prayer; asking God gives us a deeper understanding and daily application of His fatherhood, kingdom, will, provision, forgiveness, and protection. As we pray, we are learning to trust Him one day at a time. 

We live in a culture of radical individualism. Autonomy is the posture of clenched fists and hoarding. Discontentment, fear, and a scarcity mindset reveal our prayerlessness. The Lord's Prayer invites us to come to our Father as a dependent daughter and interdependent sister rather than living in fear like an orphan. When we pray, "give us," our posture shifts to open hands. Remember, prayer is a forward-facing daily dependence where our generous Daddy places everything we need into our little hands. He invites us to keep them open by faith to share as a grateful neighbor out of our bounty to those around us in need. The truth is I want dessert more than I want bread. I tend to crave my "greeds" instead of humbling receiving my needs. Praying His prayer helps me to rest in knowing that He alone is the Source and Sustainer of my life.

I am praying for you,