And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
‘Give us each day our daily bread.’ – Luke 11:2-3

God reminds me often of this scripture. I’d say He reminds me even more frequently since I’ve become chronically ill. I think it’s because I’m always trying to peer off into the future, prepare for the coming days, be calmer about whether or not tomorrow’s needs will be met.

I’ve been studying this weekend about how serious God is about this “daily bread” thing. It’s not a new concept. Even in the Old Testament, He was pretty clear about it.

See, the Israelites… wow, they were awfully short of faith after all they had seen. It makes me so sad to recognize so much of them in myself.

The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” – Exodus 16:2-3

Sound familiar? Here’s what I sound like:

Grumble, groan, moan, whine… “It would have been better, Lord, if you just would have taken me Home the last time I was in surgery. I could have just slipped off. At least I wouldn’t have to be sitting here in more pain, causing financial burden to my family. Why have you let me live just to suffer like this?”

Seriously, some days I don’t even have the faith of a mustard seed. And yet, look at the tenderness with which God answered. He didn’t just send food their way. He could have. He could have directed edible animals to wander into camp and jump into soup pots. He could have caused grain to grow beside their tents just as surely as He caused water to flow from rocks for their benefit. But He went above and beyond.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; – Exodus 16:4a

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” – Exodus 16:11-12

We have such a caring Father. But even in this generosity, His people were expected to follow certain instructions. They were only to gather what they would need for that meal on that day. Any they gathered in excess immediately rotted or melted away. This practice we have of wanting to be certain that our futures are secure, this is a worldly concern that the enemy lays on our hearts. He causes anxiety with it. What is our God’s answer?

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:33-34

God does not change. He casts no shifting shadow. He is I AM. No past tense, no future tense. Always present. He’ll be here in what we call tomorrow. Just as caring, just as tender. And just as determined to keep us focused on today.

He did no less for Israel.

The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. – Exodus 16:5

And then they entered the land flowing with milk and honey. A land that had been prepared just for them. A land given to them by God in Heaven. He sustained them by His own hand until that day. He covered them with His wings, like a mother does with her chicks. He picked them up and carried them close to His heart. His care for them went beyond the realm of the natural or imaginable. He’s awesome like that.

We serve the same God, Dear Ones. In fact, we are now adopted as His own. Closer than those Israelites ever were.

So how then, shall I approach each day?

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. – 2 Timothy 1:12

It’s hard, Dear Ones, to live day to day in the wilderness. I get that. I live there. But we have to remember that God gets it, too. He’s providing, lifting, sustaining. Constantly.

So for today, I’m just going to be focused on today. I’m going to have faith, trust, and stand secure in His promise.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:33

How about you?

Lord, You are so beyond patient and so much more than kind. We love You. Help our unbelief. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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May God Bless You,

Shelly