Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”(ESV)
By the late 1800s, Bristol, England, had been ravaged by disease, war, and the harsh conditions of dock work. The result was thousands of orphaned children left with no place to go. And in this backdrop, a story is shared by one Abigail Townsend Luffe, whose father worked alongside George Müller to serve these young people. As a small child, she witnessed Muller’s faith lived out through this verse, not just for himself but for those in his care.
One morning, knowing there was no money or food, George said to Abigail, “Come, see what our Father will do,” and led her to the dining room, where empty dishes were set on the long table. He gathered the three hundred children and said, “Children, you know we must be on time for school.” Then, raising his hand, he prayed, “Dear father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”
Jesus introduces the fourth petition of this prayer, shifting from a focus on God to a focus on human needs, beginning with one of our most basic, food. While the human body can survive 40-70 days without food and 3-5 days without water, we know that daily sustenance is essential. The Greek word Matthew uses for “daily” means essential, necessary, or enough for today. The Old Testament recounts how the Israelites received daily manna in the desert; if they gathered more than needed on any day except the Sabbath, it spoiled.
A daily dependence on God for our earthly and spiritual needs is a reminder. Like it or not, our humanity is a constant reminder that we are deeply dependent beings. While some reading this may experience less financial need, that itself serves as a caution. The Israelites who gathered too much manna received a clear reminder. While stewardship is important, we should not overlook the blessing of fully recognizing and depending on our Creator.
George Müller exemplified this faith. That day, he led the children in prayer, thanking God for the provision to come. As he finished, there was a knock at the door. The local baker stood outside and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow, I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at two o’clock and baked fresh bread, and have brought it.”
Müller thanked the baker and praised God for His care. Immediately after, a second knock came at the door. This time, the milkman’s cart had broken a wheel in front of the orphanage. Rather than let the milk spoil, he gave them his entire supply.
Abigail’s story illustrates the mindset of a man who truly lived with a “give us this day our daily bread” perspective. While many would feel anxious in such uncertainty, he and those around him learned to trust God to provide in unique ways, seeing what only God can do. Their faith grew, and more than ten thousand orphans were fed, educated, and taught life skills because of it.
As we reflect on the Lord’s Prayer and the framework Jesus established, do you have the faith to pray as intended—to ask your Father, the Creator, for only what you need today? Or, do you find this convicting, realizing that your prayers often ask for more than needed? God wants to show us that our dependence is not on our own ability to provide, but on a Father who delights in giving good gifts to His children. Lord, give us this day what we need to fill our spirits, to provide for our fleshly needs, and to empower us to deliver your message of hope to those in need.
Stay on Mission
Footnote: Much of this story can be found HERE
Leave a Reply