Give us this day, our daily bread

The kitchen is really the heart of our home.....I spend a lot of time in there, preparing and cleaning up meals. Several years ago, I read Max Lucado's, Great House of God and there is a chapter where as he moves through the House of God....he eventually ends up in my favorite of all of the rooms....the kitchen.

As Max Lucado makes his way through the Lord's Prayer in The Great House of God, it is in the kitchen where we reach the part in the prayer,

"give us this day our daily bread."

Since I am the primary preparer of our 'earthly' meals, I am drawn to this room and to this part of the prayer. I plan and prepare the meals for my family which are our 'physical daily bread,' but our 'real daily bread', the bread of life, is continually provided by the Father. When we pray for "Our Daily Bread" we are asking HIM to provide for us what we need that day....what we need, not necessarily what we 'want.'

I make my kiddos eat their vegetables and they will tell you they'd much rather eat ice cream! And, honestly, a diet of Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips and cheesecake sounds much better to me than a diet full of 12 grain bread and beans...BUT there are days....days where my daily bread is chocolate and cake and other days when it is, well, liver and onions. I have days where what is provided by the Father is not what I would have chosen, and yet I am learning to eat what is served! And graciously say THANK YOU for the perfect provision.

I often explain to my children that what I have prepared is 'good for them.' What kind of mom would I be if I only allowed cake and ice cream? And my Father (the heavenly caterer) lovingly and faithfully prepares a plate that is 'good for me.' What kind of Father would HE be if he only served me chocolate and cheesecake. Just as my kiddos sit and stare, and even at times, try and 'hide' the broccoli in their milk (we don't have a dog, and they have to try and put it SOMEWHERE), I too, at times have tried to avoid the 'meal that is being provided.' Or, perhaps worse yet, not appreciated what was being provided to me..."MY DAILY BREAD."

In faith we ask God for "our daily bread," confident that HE will supply what we need. I need to understand that there are banquet days, diner days, and bread and water days, days where breakfast is served for dinner and YES, days when chocolate and cheesecake are on the menu all day. As too are the days where liver and onions are served, sometimes for WEEKS at a time...and EACH is provided by God....giving me 'my daily bread.'

The kitchen is my favorite room in the house, it is where we gather as a family to 'break bread' and come together. Just as I provide food for them, serving sometimes the food they desire and LOVE, and other times giving them 'what they need,' I am reminded that my Heavenly Father is providing too...my daily bread...each and everyday. What a wonderful room that kitchen is, and what lessons from the Father we can learn there.

Father, As I pray daily, 'give me my daily bread,' help me to be ever grateful for your provision in any form. Father, as you lovingly prepare and provide for me, help me to graciously receive what you give. Help me Father to understand beyond a doubt that YOU know what I need, not I, and through my daily bread you provide 'exactly what I need...all the time.' Help me to accept delays and burdens as 'food that is GOOD for me' and to rejoice with praise to YOUR NAME when the banquet is set before me. Father, I beg you to make me ever mindful that YOU are God and all my hope and trust is in you.

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Isaiah 26:3

amen~

In Him,

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