Living Day by Day!

We have family in France who is going through a challenging time of transition. An uncle is in a rehabilitation facility recovering from a recent fall. This means that the aunt is home and on her own as she tries to maintain a house and take care of her everyday needs. Both are in their mid-nineties. When you have to depend on others for grocery shopping and you are only cooking for one, an easy and nutritious microwave meal can help alleviate some of the stress.

French Ready Meal

The French have their own version of "meals-on-wheels!" A noontime meal is delivered to the door each day! The menu for a recent meal included: Beef Bourguignon (braised beef in red wine!), couscous, fruit, salami, cheese, a bottle of water, and of course, the quintessential, baguette! Voil`a! ("There it is!") A "Ready Meal!"

In the Lord's Model Prayer, Jesus taught us about the daily focus. He instructed His Disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11). Bread is the "stay and staff" (Isa. 3:1 KJV) of life. Bread represents the necessities of our lives. So, we are to pray this prayer with a daily focus. I could paraphrase, "O Lord, graciously supply what we need for this day." 

Later in the chapter, Jesus continued teaching that life must be lived in daily increments. "So do not worry, saying what shall we eat... what shall we drink?" The futility in all of this was made clear with the question, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (v. 27). He warned that "little faith" is obsessed with questioning and worrying "what you shall eat or drink" (vv. 25, 30).

One of my favorite television preachers, Dr. James Merritt, recently remarked, "When you realize that everything is in God's hands, you never need to take matters into your hands!" I find that God will allow me to worry and obsess about some things, but these feeble efforts will never accomplish what waiting patiently on His providential care and intervention can do! 

Jesus didn't say that our praying was to be so expansive that it included concerns for everyday in the week ahead. God doesn't make any long-term guarantees. Nor does He bless our greed! He does know what we need, however! So, our praying should be focused on the gift of the day we have. The coming and unfolding day! This day! A reminder that when we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," that we trust God for our necessities today!

May I suggest a prayer that will help to keep us grounded in uncertain times? This petition for "Quiet Confidence" quotes Psalm 46:10, "O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength. By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." (Book of Common Prayer, 59, p. 832). 

Mike Keppler, retired pastor, 
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com



Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing a 'Good Word.' I know a few folks, besides myself, that need this friendly reminder of God's promised daily provision .

    ReplyDelete

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