Below as in Above: 5 Days in the Lord's PrayerНамуна

PROVISION

Yesterday, we saw that the Lord’s Prayer begins with worship. In the middle, we find the petitions. When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are asking God for provision. It’s no surprise that provision—like all of the Christian life—is a process. And we shouldn’t just endure the process; we should learn to enjoy it.

There are five things about bread we need to know:

B: Basic

Bread is foundational. In Jesus’ day, it was a staple of their diet—simple to make but complex in how it reaches us. Think about it: bread requires farming, threshing, milling, baking, transporting, selling, and serving. A restaurant crafts a recipe. A server brings it to your table. A bank operates so you can pay for it. There’s a whole process behind every loaf, and at every point along the way, God gets the glory.

R: Rises

Bread rises! And it’s a powerful symbol of what God wants to do in our hearts as we seek Him. When life heats up, we rise. Bread goes through a lot to get to us—from a single buried seed to being held in our hands. It rises because of the adversity it endures. The process may not be pleasant, but it is always profitable.

E: Energy

Getting bread takes effort. God’s provision requires us to break a sweat. Don’t pray for something you aren’t willing to work for. We are called to be active, not passive. And provision is cyclical—energy goes into making bread, and bread gives us energy in return. The same is true spiritually. Jesus compared Himself to bread because we need Him as part of our daily spiritual diet.

A: Ask

You have to ask for it. Matthew 7:7 tells us to ask, seek, and knock—not just once, but persistently. And if you look closely, those three words spell ASK! Petition God earnestly. Nothing is too big or too small to bring before Him. Don’t live with a scarcity mindset—your Father loves to provide.

D: Decays

Bread is perishable. It doesn’t last forever. You have to use what you have and keep it fresh. The same goes for your spiritual life. Are you studying His Word? Are you in community? Are you serving? Are you coming back daily to ask God for fresh strength and a fresh filling? He gives daily bread, but we need to return again and again to receive it.

Action Step

Read the following verses and reflect on the questions:

• Deuteronomy 8:3– What is the connection between bread and Scripture?
• Matthew 7:7– How can we delight God in our approach to Him?
• John 12:24– What does it mean to be buried like a seed? How did Jesus fulfill this concept?

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for being the Bread of Life who forever sustains me. I come to You now for my daily bread, trusting that You know exactly what I need. Fill me today so that I can pour into others. I lean on You alone for my provision—because You are what my soul truly needs.