"Teach us to Pray" 5

"Give us this day our daily bread"  1
This is the first mention of asking for ourselves! "Give us ..." How often have the prayers of God's people been "Give us, Give us, Give us"? How often have we come with a shopping list of all the needs, or sent to prayer partners sharing only the sicknesses, the difficulties, the problems and heartaches? Of course, we need to share the burdens of others. We need to pray. BUT just think back on the first few phrases of the Lord's prayer - all about our Father God, His wonderful praiseworthy name and character, His wonderful will in Heaven to come to earth to set men and women free. How glorious! 

I believe our intercession and prayer will be so powerful, if we ensure that we spend more time in praising our amazing God, and considering all that Jesus has done for us, and thanking Him for His gifts and blessings, and His incredible promises, than we do in the asking. Actually many problems get solved in worshiping Him, and healings will flow as we wait in His presence. Our lists will be a whole lot shorter!

However, Jesus does tell us to ask. Ask for our daily bread - for our material provision, our homes, our food, our clothes. We ask for today!  In the same chapter as He teaches the disciples about praying, Jesus tells them not to worry:

Matt 6:31-34
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

When we ask in His name, and He answers, how our faith grows for the tomorrows that we don't know about yet. Cares, anxieties and worries will disappear. His faithfulness to us never never ends.

John 16:23-24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

So, pray in faith, trusting your loving heavenly Father to provide all you need and all your family needs. Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not lack!"
Find other verses and scriptures about God's joy in providing for His children!

Of course, this is not just about asking for our own needs - but for others also - this is the part in the Lord's prayer where we can pray for others we know in desperate situations, particularly in other parts of the world. Let us claim God's wonderful promises for those of His family suffering in so many places. Pray provision for the missionaries you personally know. Don't be overwhelmed trying to pray for the whole world, but ask the Holy Spirit to lead you specifically.