Give us this day our daily bread
Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism Question 125. What is the fourth petition? “Give us this day our daily bread.” That is: be pleased to provide for all our bodily needs so that thereby we may acknowledge that thou art the only source of all that is good, and that without thy blessing neither our care and labor nor thy gifts can do us any good. Therefore, may we withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it in thee alone.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Shorter Catechism Question 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that, of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.
- Prov. 30:8 “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need.”
- 1 Tim. 4:4-5 “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.”
- Prov. 10:22 “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”
Study Catechism
Study Catechism Question 130. What is meant by the fourth petition, “Give us today our daily bread”? We ask God to provide for all our needs, for we know that God, who cares for us in every area of our life, has promised us temporal as well as spiritual blessings. God commands us to pray each day for all that we need and no more, so that we will learn to rely completely on God. We pray that we will use what we are given wisely, remembering especially the poor and the needy. Along with every living creature we look to God, the source of all generosity, to bless us and nourish us, according to the divine good pleasure.
- Prov. 30:8 “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need.”
- Ps. 90:17 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands!”
- Ps. 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
- Ps. 72:4 “May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.”
- Ps. 104:27-28 “These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.”
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