Lesson #104—Prayer: Our Daily Bread

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Shorter Catechism Q & A #104

Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread) we pray, That of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

Memorize Q&A—Exposition

The receiving of our daily bread reveals our trust in God. The Heidelberg Catechism teaches us to pray that God “…be pleased to provide us with all things necessary for [125] the body,

that we may thereby acknowledge thee to be the only fountain of all good, and that neither our care nor industry, nor even thy gifts, can profit us without thy blessings, and therefore that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures, and place it alone in thee.”

What does it mean?

What understanding of ‘our daily bread’ is given to us in Proverbs 30:7–9? -Discuss how vanity and envy feed our anxiety, overshadowing God’s law, justice, grace, joy, and peace. (Compare with Matt. 6:31–34) How are we to receive the blessings of each day?—1 Tim. 4:4–5.

What is our practice?

“Our Lord has called us to prayer, and he will answer according to his promises and loving-kindness. In prayer we rest upon the Lord who lovingly holds us in his hands as we are calling upon him. …Prayer is the hand God has granted us on earth to receive the blessings of heaven. Let us, therefore, come to prayer with the joy of thanksgiving, for the fruits of the day are but the showers of our Father’s sweet mercy.” (LaMay, He Hears My Voice)

Quotes for thought and discussion:

Thomas Watson wrote, “If all be a gift, then take notice of God’s goodness. There is nothing in us that can deserve or requite God’s kindness; yet such is the sweetness of his nature, that he gives us such provision and feeds us with the finest of the wheat.” (The Lord’s Prayer) “We pray, ‘Give it to us; not to me only, but to others in common with me.’ This teaches us charity, and a compassionate concern for the poor and needy. It intimates also, that we ought to pray with our families; we and our households eat together, and therefore ought to pray together.” (Matthew Henry, Matthew Commentary)

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