Day 21 — Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

— Matthew 6:11 (BSB)

Yesterday we learned that the Lord’s Prayer begins by looking up at God: who He is and what He wants. Today we get to the next part, where Jesus teaches us to ask God for what we need.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Just a few verses earlier, Jesus said something surprising: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). So if God already knows, why ask?

Because prayer isn’t about giving God information. It’s about trusting Him. When you ask God for something, you’re saying, I need You. Everything I have comes from You. It’s like a kid asking their parent for dinner. The parent was already planning to make dinner! But the asking shows the child knows where good things come from.

Notice the word daily. When God’s people were wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt, He fed them with a special food called manna. Every morning it appeared on the ground. But there was a rule: gather only enough for today. If they tried to store extra, it went bad. God wanted them to learn to trust Him one day at a time.

That’s what Jesus is teaching here. We don’t have to worry about next month or next year. We can trust God for today, and then trust Him again tomorrow.

“Bread” doesn’t just mean bread. It means everything we need to live: food, clothes, a home, health, help with homework, courage for a hard conversation, strength to get through a tough day. No need is too small to bring to God. He cares about the big things and the little things.

This prayer also says “give us,” not just “give me.” When we pray, we can remember other people’s needs too, especially people who don’t have enough.

Think about it: What is something you need today? Have you asked God for it?

Try this: Make two lists: “Things I need” and “Things other people need.” Pray through both lists today.

Dear Father, thank You that You know what I need before I ask. Please give me what I need today: [tell Him your needs]. Please also take care of [someone else who has a need]. Help me trust You one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.