DAILY DEPENDENCE

 "Give us today our daily bread." Matthew 6:11 

Why daily bread? I asked in frustration one day. Why not a lifetime bread?

There was a point in my life I used to apologize to God each time I needed something from him. Mostly when He had just helped me out in another area and then there I was asking him for something else the next day. It may sound silly to you now because you know better. Then I didn't. 

Somehow, I thought God was rolling his eyes, running out of patience with me taking forever to reach the point of self-sufficiency. I used to wonder all the time if people needed God as much as I did. Some days I would promise God if He helped me figure one thing out, I would not come back asking for guidance on the next step or the next stage. I would promise to figure it out myself and make Him proud. Looking back, I can't help but feel sorry for that girl. I wish I could go back and tell her that, Girl, God is not grooming you not to need Him! He is grooming you to realize your constant, daily need for Him to thrive. To bloom. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

Although I have a better understanding of Matthew 6:11 than I did in my teen years, some days, I am still tempted to grumble about the daily bread. In these uncertain times, the planner in me who loves to buy things in bulk, still looks at the manna set before me and asks, will this be there tomorrow? Is there more where that came from?

I feel now, more than ever, people's desire for a security blanket has increased. The pandemic has opened people's eyes to the importance of having savings, something in the barn, a second source of income, a backup plan, different kinds of insurance, etc. The idea of asking for daily bread now more than ever seems unfair, an agony. That is why I am putting this up here, to remind someone even as I have been reminded that having God on our side is in itself a security blanket. And when He says to ask for daily bread, it is because there is more where that came from. A storehouse that never empties.

This is also a reminder to take life one day at a time, to talk to God every day, and just ask. 

We tend to get wound up when we go against the principle of asking for daily bread. It is little wonder that few verses down in Matthew 6:34, Jesus reminds us not to worry about our life, our tomorrows. 

So, here's to enjoying the bread for today, with the understanding that all I have to do is ask again tomorrow, and the provision will be there.