My son, Mark, is a hard worker.  He gets up early, travels to the job site and sweats under the hot sun!  His labour is physical.  He and the concrete crew often race the clock, or the weather, to finish a concrete pour and complete the necessary steps before sundown or before the snow flies!

Some folks have jobs that are time-sensitive and must manage their tasks within a certain time-frame.  Others of us work with people, giving leadership and overseeing the big picture, so our roles do not require as much hurry.  But the enormity of that type of responsibility carries a different load and still requires time and deadlines.

At the end of the day, both types of labour can leave us very tired, drained and done.

"Give us this day our daily bread..." Matthew 6:11

Every day, we need to rely on God for our needs.  Literally, we have physical need for food (and water).  Back in biblical times, labourers were often paid daily; therefore this prayer was a reality for daily provision.  Just as we have hunger and thirst, we also have emotional and spiritual needs.  Those needs can't be filled only on a weekly basis, or monthly or annually!  We need the strength and wisdom and ongoing ability to live and work and raise our families EVERY DAY! 

I think of the Scripture in Lamentations, written by Jeremiah the prophet, to the grieving Israelites.  They were a defeated nation, sent to live in a foreign country in exile. Their present circumstances looked hopeless; their future looked bleak.  In the midst of this darkness and sorrow, Jeremiah writes to God's people:  "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22-23 

As we rise every morning, we can be sure that God's steadfast love, mercy and faithfulness will be there to greet us.  We are never alone to figure out our problems or challenges.  God promises to be with us and to give us what we need EVERY DAY.

As Jesus continued His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where He taught the Lord's Prayer, He gives another truth for us to apply.  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:34  Yes, each day does seem to present trouble and challenge.  But worrying about it ahead of time is pointless.  Jesus emphasizes that tomorrow will be another day and what did He promise?  He would be with us in the future, as well as right now.  Such a comfort!

Looking back to the Old Testament, the provision of daily bread began in the time of Moses and the fleeing Hebrew slaves.  When the people began to complain of hunger, God gave Moses this information:  "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them..." Exodus 16:4  God would provide the bread, the people would gather it and only enough for that day.  (On the day before the Sabbath, God would send double the amount so they could gather for the day of rest and not work on that day.)  Maybe we do not have that exact provision; in a land of extreme weather and harsh winters, we must prepare ahead for our food and heat supplies.  But the principle is that we need God and His presence each and every day.  If we ask for our daily needs from Him and rely on Him, we will not lack.  And just as importantly, we need to acknowledge and give Him thanks for providing!  Being ungrateful is as bad as not asking for our daily supply from the Father.  If we think WE are the ones who work hard and earn our own way, we are in danger of independence from the Lord, and risk alienating ourselves from Him.

I just finished putting together a puzzle.  Starting with the outer edges, I built the framework of the project, then began to piece together the rest.  Each piece needed to be placed in order, one piece at a time.  Just as each day must be lived in order, not rushing ahead to the future, or being stuck in the past, we must focus on TODAY.  

May God show Himself today as your Provider and Father.  He is faithful and will meet your needs, whatever they may be.