Matthew 6:9-13<\/p>\n
\u201cGive us this day our daily bread\u201d<\/p>\n
Some things to think about:
\nFresh bread.\u00a0 Boy there\u2019s nothing better than bread right out of the oven.\u00a0 Here Jesus is inviting us to bring our specific, pressing needs before God and to ask for sustaining provision.\u00a0 The image of course comes out of the Old Testament.\u00a0 While Israel was wandering in the desert God gave them \u201cdaily bread\u201d in the manna that fell each morning.\u00a0 They always had just enough for their real need.\u00a0 Here Jesus is promising the same.\u00a0 God cares about our real-life needs, and has promised to meet them.\u00a0 He also invites us to ask.\u00a0 \u201cAsk and you will receive\u201d Jesus promises.\u00a0 It\u2019s an audacious promise.\u00a0 Faith, it seems is audaciously responding to God\u2019s own audacious initiative!<\/p>\n
Some things to do:
\nGo taste some fresh bread this week.\u00a0 Seriously.\u00a0 As a treat you might even want to go to a bakery today and get a scone right out of the oven.\u00a0 Enjoy!\u00a0 Now make a list of the things you really need.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t anything new to God. He knows your needs.\u00a0 But list them and then tell him anyway.
\nList the things you need in your physical life: real practical things like funds to pay for a child in college or strength to keep up with your grandkids.\u00a0 Ask.
\nList the things you need for your soul: practical things like peace of mind and hope that you can handle all your responsibilities.\u00a0 Ask.
\nList the things you need for your eternal life: a deeper ability to listen to God\u2019s voice and understand the Bible for instance.\u00a0 Ask.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Some things to talk about:
\nIs it easy for you to ask God for specific needs?\u00a0 Why or why not?\u00a0 Jesus says that when we ask Father for bread he will not give us a stone.\u00a0 What \u201cbread\u201d have you been given by God?\u00a0 Have you asked God for something good and been disappointed?\u00a0 Has a disappointment with God in the past, or in another person\u2019s life hindered you from asking for something again?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Matthew 6:9-13 \u201cGive us this day our daily bread\u201d Some things to think about: Fresh bread.\u00a0 Boy there\u2019s nothing better than bread right out of the oven.\u00a0 Here Jesus is inviting us to bring our specific, pressing needs before God and to ask for sustaining provision.\u00a0 The image of course comes out of the Old…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":481,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[96,90,88,89,93,442,91,92,79,95,94],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lent","tag-asking-god","tag-bread-of-life","tag-daily-bread","tag-fresh-bread","tag-funds-for-college","tag-lent","tag-listening-to-gods-voice","tag-peace-of-mind","tag-prayer","tag-praying-with-jesus","tag-strength"],"yoast_head":"\n