Jesus’ model prayer provides structure for ours. We acknowledge God as Father and focus on his agenda. Then, we humbly ask him to supply our needs. This is where we find the God who voluntarily obligates himself to care for his people.
“Give us this day,” reflects first century cultures where workers received their wages daily and lived hand to mouth. Today, this reality is still true in many parts of the world.
Asking for daily bread is a request for necessities not luxuries. It is a plea that demonstrates dependence upon our Father in heaven. Jesus’ use of personal pronouns our, us, and we, suggest the scope of our prayer should include the needs of the broader community, not just our own.
As we think about praying for the broader global community, let’s remember the 13 million Syrian refugees scattered from their homeland. Ninety percent live in extreme poverty.1 They struggle to find daily bread. But let’s also pray they find Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
This week, let’s pray:
“Father in heaven, thank you for providing my daily food. Please do the same for the Syrian refugees. And please send missionaries who will take the message of Jesus, the Bread of Life, to these dear people who have never heard.”
1. “Nine out of ten Syrian refugee families in Lebanon are now living in extreme poverty, UN study says,” UNHCR, December 18, 2020, https://www.unhcr.org/lb/14025-nine-out-of-ten-syrian-refugee-families-in-lebanon-are-now-living-in-extreme-poverty-un-study-says.html.
