One key element of prayer Jesus taught his disciples was the request for immediate sustenance. God provides for the basics. Whatever we need to live in a functional manner is sourced in God.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

This is a tough request. It is a request based in confidence. Our Father does provide and we TRUST him for that sustenance. It is a tough request because that means we are not to be anxious over our daily provision. To be honest, I am anxious about daily provision… a lot.

But God is the Eternal Now. He is present. Today. Today I have God and all he provides. Tomorrow will be the same story. As an adult, this is a tough concept.

“What about my retirement fund? What about my healthcare costs?”

But as a child, it’s easier to see. Kids don’t save up pieces of bacon from breakfast because they’re not sure if lunch will be there. They TRUST their parents. They don’t worry about tomorrow. Breakfast will be there again. A child shouldn’t have to think about future provision.

This doesn’t mean we do NOT have future plans or future provision. (I still build my tiny little retirement fund.) What it DOES mean is that I cannot rely on that as my full security. If I trust my financial capabilities over the Kingdom for my future security I have shut down the full ability of the Kingdom in my life.

Practicing this part of prayer is tougher than it initially sounds. When I ask the Lord for daily provision I am trusting him for what I need. I am freeing myself from this concern about the future. If I can do this, I will have a sense of true transformation in this area of trust.