As we reach this part of The Lord's Prayer we see a turning point in the text. A close look at the prayer reveals two aspects in the first and second halves to note: 1. In the first half we see the word "Your" - "Your name", "Your kingdom", "Your will". 2. In the second half of the prayer we see the word "us" - "Give us", "forgive us", "lead us". God And Your Problems In the second half of this prayer God is brought directly into the very tiniest details of our everyday lives. Why? Because the God of this universe cares about everything you are involved in. As we look at the second half of the prayer we learn that it contains three petitions: 1. "Our daily bread" 2. "Forgive us our debts" 3. "Lead us not into temptation" These three things cover provision, pardon, and protection. The Lord's Prayer is so much more than just a ritual prayer to recite or a model prayer to follow. If we understand it in it's breadth, everything we that we can legitimately pray about is contained either in the first half or the second half of this great prayer. Daily Bread For Daily Needs It means “for this very day,” or “for the day that is about to come Two conclusions from these two points: 1. The fact that Jesus mentions bread teaches us that material things do not lie outside the realm of prayer 2. Jesus is teaching us the importance of moment by moment, complete dependence upon God for the things that we need. What is daily bread dependence? There are 4 qualities that need to be present in our lives in order for this prayer request to become a reality. 1. Daily Bread Dependence is Gratitude (to God for all His blessings) We learn that everything we have comes from God. The clothes, the food, the friendships, the education, the mind we use, the words we speak, everything comes from God. Surely this must be the central teaching-that gratitude to God is to mark our lives and we’re to be grateful to God for all he’s done. - Deuteronomy 8:10 "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you." - 1 Chronicles 29:14 David says, "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have given you only what comes from your hand." Everything of value that you possess comes in one way or another from the hand of Almighty God. - Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom" 2. Daily Bread Dependence is Contentment (with what God has already provided) We should pray for our needs, not our greeds. We are to pray and ask God for what we really need, not for every wild desire that comes into our mind. 3. Daily Bread Dependence is Confidence (that God will meet my daily needs day by day) See Exodus 16 as God provided each day only what the children of Israel needed for that day. God wants us to learn that daily dependence and sometimes allows circumstances in our lives to remind us to do that. Uncertainties in life like illness, job loss, collapse of an empire you established. These things can happen so quickly. Sometimes a reason God can allow these things to happen is to move us away from self-sufficiency to God-sufficiency, from self-reliance to God-reliance, from trusting our own ability to trusting God alone. Do we then avoid planning ahead? Of course not! You should plan ahead. You should NOT worry ahead. Daily bread dependence means taking life one day at a time and being confident that God will take care of your needs day by day by day. 4. Daily Bread Dependence is Generosity (towards those around you) The use of the word "our" in "Give us this day OUR daily bread" indicates that we do not pray this prayer alone, but in concert with our fellow brothers and sisters. We all eat from the same table. What you have is loaned to you that you might give it to other people. To say "OUR Daily Bread" is to see a world of needy and hurting people. Gratitude. Contentment. Confidence. Generosity. That’s what Daily Bread dependence is all about. If you pray this prayer enough, that’s where you’ll end up. It’s not a bad place to be. The heart of gratitude comes from realizing that God alone is the source of all our blessings. Gracious Father, teach us to trust you more and more. When we are tempted to do it ourselves, bring us down to the place where we must cry out for your help. Forgive us for living as if we were God and you are not. We thank you for giving us exactly what we need, when we need it, not a moment too soon, and not moment too late. Having received so much from you, we ask one thing more. Give us grateful hearts. Amen.