“Give us today our daily bread…” – Jesus in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11:3 –

Every December I like to take time to reflect on the previous year; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Before the year’s sunset, I review moments so that they become my memory stones.

I look back so that I can remember the goodness and faithfulness of God and the kindness of people. After reflecting, I create a gratitude list so that I can step into the New Year with a thankful heart and not carry the troubles of yesterday with me into today.

As I reflect over the year, I sense the word for 2023 is “fresh daily bread.” How can we receive fresh bread daily? This is exactly what Jesus talks about in Matthew 6:11 and in Luke 11.

In Luke 11:1, the disciples ask, “Jesus, teach us how to pray…” In the following verses, Jesus teaches about praying to our Heavenly Father, for His Kingdom and will, and finally for fresh daily bread.

Everything that Jesus needed on a daily basis first came from his heavenly Father.

In other words, the secret to Jesus’ life is that he received something from his heavenly Father every day in order to give and pour it out to others around him.

This reminds me of the story of Elisha and the widow with olive oil. She cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 

Her circumstances overwhelmed her. She was desperate and rightfully so. Her feelings were true but it wasn’t the truth.

2 Kings 4: 1-7 says, “Elisha asks her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” The widow responds, ” Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few. Then you shall come in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour into all these containers; and you shall set aside what is full.” So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they began bringing the containers to her, and she poured the oil.  When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he said to her, “There are no more containers.” Then the oil stopped. So she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

She took the little she had, found empty vessels to pour into, and filled them to the brim. Miraculously, the oil did not run out. It only stopped as there were no more empty vessels. Imagine if she had found more empty vessels. Her own provision was found in providing for others.  

Whatever you are facing this coming year that feels impossible, I want to challenge you to do exactly what Jesus instructed his disciples to do in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11. Ask your heavenly Father to give you what you need on a daily basis. Your needs and prayers should lead you into a place of total trust in God. And take what you have, even if only a mustard seed of faith, and what you have received from the Father and find people, empty vessels, to pour into. 

This is key to receiving your own oil. 

Take a moment to watch my latest podcast where I share more about vision for 2023 and receiving fresh daily bread from our Father in heaven. You can also listen to the episode on Charisma Podcast Network.