Enough for Today

The Lord’s Prayer • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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God calls His people to live in daily dependence upon Him, trusting that He will provide exactly what we need for today.

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION

OPENING SLIDE

Why have we been spending what will be six weeks covering the Lord’s Prayer?

The prayer seems pretty simple, or is it?

The Lord’s Prayer is not meant to be a prayer that is repeated over and over, but rather it is a pattern for our prayer lives.

In the parts Jerry covered, Jesus established some important things for us to understand before we lift our prayers to God.

The first part of the Lord’s Prayer focuses on God, His name, His kingdom, and His will.

Once those things are established, Jesus moves to human needs, bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation.

Before Jesus teaches us to ask for what we want, He teaches us to desire what God wants.

“If I just had a little more money…”

“If I had more security…”

“If I knew what was going to happen next…”

“If I could just get ahead…”

And let me be clear, planning is not wrong.

Scripture speaks positively about wisdom and preparation.

But sometimes our desire to prepare can slowly become an attempt to control tomorrow.

The problem is that tomorrow has a way of stealing today.

We worry about tomorrow’s bills while missing today’s blessings.

We stress over next year’s problems while ignoring today’s provision.

We ask God for next month’s answers while He is trying to teach us today’s trust.

Big Idea

God calls His people to live in daily dependence upon Him, trusting that He will provide exactly what we need for today.

Jesus intentionally teaches His followers to live one day at a time under the care of God.

God may not always give us everything for tomorrow, but He promises enough for today.

When Israel came out of Egypt and entered the wilderness, God provided manna from heaven.

But God did something interesting.

He did not give them a year’s supply.

He did not allow them to stockpile it. He gave them enough for today.

And when some tried to gather extra and keep it for tomorrow, it spoiled.

Why?

Because God was teaching them that He could be trusted tomorrow too.

Every morning they woke up and had to trust again.

Every morning they had to depend again.

Every morning they had to believe God will provide enough for today.

Church, maybe that is exactly where some of us are this morning.

You do not need next year’s strength today.

You need today’s strength.

You do not need next month’s grace today.

You need today’s grace.

You do not need tomorrow’s bread today.

You need enough for today.

Let’s turn to Matthew 6:11.

Matthew 6:11 NET 2nd ed.

11 Give us today our daily bread,

MAIN POINT 1 SLIDE

SERMON

Our prayers should center on…

I. Daily Provision

When Jesus teaches His followers to pray this prayer, He begins with a very basic need:

Bread.

Bread was not a luxury item in the ancient world; bread was life.

Bread represented the necessities of life.

It represented what people needed to survive.

When Jesus says: “Give us this day our daily bread,” He is teaching. His disciples something foundational: God is our provider.

Notice the wording carefully.

Jesus does not teach us to pray: “Help me earn my bread.”

He does not say, "Help me secure my bread.”

He says: “Give us…”

The request itself acknowledges dependence.

Everything we have ultimately comes from God.

The word "give" in this verse is significant both linguistically and theologically, especially in light of the New Testament’s emphasis on God’s providence and the believer’s dependence on Him.

The Greek word translated "give" means "to give" or "to grant."

The subjunctive mood indicates a petition or request, emphasizing the dependence of the believer on God’s gracious provision.

This is not a demand or entitlement but a humble asking for what is needed.

Theologically, "give" highlights the believer’s recognition that all good things come from God (James 1:17).

Asking God to "give" daily bread acknowledges God's sovereign role as the provider of physical sustenance.

This is consistent with the New Testament teaching that God cares intimately for His people’s needs (Philippians 4:19).

Philippians 4:19 NET 2nd ed.

19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Additionally, the verb "give" connects with the larger theme of God’s generosity throughout Scripture.

Jesus elsewhere teaches that God the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13), and James exhorts believers to ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach (James 1:5–6).

This word signals both trust and dependence, affirming that God is the source of life’s necessities.

In the context of the Lord’s Prayer, "give" also reflects a daily reliance—not just for physical bread but for spiritual sustenance.

Bread here symbolizes God’s provision for life, recalling both the manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and Jesus as the "bread of life" (John 6:35).

Thus, "give" implies God’s continuous, gracious provision for both body and soul.

“GIVE” reminds us to live in daily dependence on God, not accumulating excessive provisions out of anxiety but trusting Him to supply what we need each day.

It calls for a posture of humility and gratitude, recognizing that every blessing is a gift.

As Christians, we should pray with confidence that God will supply our needs, both physical and spiritual, in His perfect timing.

The word "give" in Matthew 6:11 is a powerful expression of our dependence on God’s grace and provision, inviting us to trust Him daily as the generous Giver of all good things.

Everything ultimately traces back to the hand of God.

Sometimes we forget that.

We can become so self-sufficient that we start thinking, "I built this,” “I earned this," and “I accomplished this.”

But Jesus reminds us: You may work for the bread, but God provides the bread.

And this is exactly what God was teaching Israel in the wilderness.

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites found themselves in the desert with no food source.

No fields.

No markets.

No supply chains.

Only dependence.

So God sent manna from heaven.

Every morning they walked out and gathered enough for that day.

Not next week.

Not next month.

Just enough for today.

And when some tried to hold onto extra because they did not trust tomorrow, it spoiled.

Why?

Because God was teaching them: “You can trust Me tomorrow just as you trust Me today.”

The manna was never just about food; it was about faith.

Every sunrise became an invitation to trust.

Church, God often works the same way with us.

We want next year’s provision.

God gives today’s grace.

We want the five-year plan.

God gives the next step.

We want certainty.

God teaches trust.

Maybe some of us are frustrated because God has not given us next month’s answer yet.

But maybe God is saying, "I have already given you enough for today.”

Enough strength.

Enough grace.

Enough provision.

Enough mercy.

Enough bread.

And tomorrow… His mercies will be new again.

The word translated as “daily” is a rare word.

So rare that it appears only here and in Luke 11:3.

Because of that, scholars have long debated its exact sense.

The basic idea certainly includes what is needed for the day, but the word can carry the sense of bread for the coming day, necessary bread, or even bread sufficient for our existence.

Jesus is not teaching us to pray for luxury, stockpiles, or greed but for God’s provision sufficient for faithful living today.

The emphasis falls not on excess, but on dependence.

But Jesus does not merely teach us that God provides… He also teaches us what matters most.

Because the prayer is not for abundance… It is for bread.

It is for enough.

That brings us to our second truth.

Matthew 6:11 NET 2nd ed.

11 Give us today our daily bread,

Our prayers should center on…

MAIN POINT 2 SLIDE

II. Daily Priority

Remember that bread represents necessities, not luxuries.

Jesus is teaching us to prioritize what we truly need, not merely what we endlessly want.

This prayer confronts our culture of excess.

Jesus teaches His followers to bring their needs before God.

The prayer is not "Lord, give me everything I want.”

The prayer is "Lord, give me what I need.”

And there is a difference.

There is a difference between the following:

Needs.

Wants.

Greed.

We often pray, "Lord, increase my comfort.”

Jesus teaches, "Lord, sustain my life.”

Our world constantly tells us: “You need more.”

“You deserve more.”

“You are missing out.”

“Get a bigger house.”

“Get a newer car.”

“Get better.”

But Jesus teaches us to pray differently.

He teaches us to seek enough.

And honestly, that can be hard.

The prayer teaches contentment.

Because most of us are not naturally content people.

We can always find something else to chase.

A bigger house.

More savings.

A different car.

Another purchase.

One more thing that promises happiness.

The problem is this: If enough is never enough, then nothing will ever satisfy us.

Proverbs 30:8–9 NET 2nd ed.

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread, 9 lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.

In our society, where so much is at grasp, this is a difficult prayer.

The prayer says, "Neither poverty nor riches, but just enough."

Sometimes abundance becomes dangerous because abundance can make us forget where blessings came from.

The prioritization of abundance can take us away from prioritizing God and family.

Moses warned Israel about this very thing.

After entering the Promised Land, they would eat, prosper, build homes, and be blessed—and Moses warned:

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 NET 2nd ed.

17 Be careful not to say, “My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.” 18 You must remember the Lord your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day.

Sometimes success creates spiritual amnesia.

We forget the Provider.

Here is the hard truth: Sometimes God says “no” to excess because He is saying “yes” to dependence.

Sometimes He withholds abundance because He is building trust.

Sometimes He gives us enough because enough keeps us near Him.

Philippians 4:11–12 NET 2nd ed.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. 12 I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing.

Contentment was learned.

It was not automatic.

It was not natural.

It was learned.

Perhaps that is exactly what Jesus is teaching in this prayer.

Every day we learn God is enough.

His provision is enough.

His grace is enough.

Today is enough.

But this prayer is not only about provision… It is about relationship.

Let’s take one last look at the passage.

Matthew 6:11 NET 2nd ed.

11 Give us today our daily bread,

Our prayers should center on…

MAIN POINT 3 SLIDE

III. Daily Dependence

“Give us…”

Notice Jesus does not teach, "I earned this day my daily bread.”

He teaches us to ask.

Why?

Because prayer is an act of dependence and humility.

God desires a relationship with you; He is simply an ATM of blessings for you.

Dependence is built into the design.

God could have created us to eat once a month.

He could have made people self-sustaining.

He could have given Israel a warehouse full of manna.

But instead, He created us with daily needs.

Why?

Because daily needs create daily dependence.

Every morning hunger returns.

Every morning thirst returns.

Every morning weakness returns.

And every morning we are reminded that we still need God today.

Church, this prayer is bigger than food.

This prayer is about relationship.

Jesus is teaching His disciples to keep coming back to the Father.

Not once.

Not occasionally.

Not only in crisis.

Daily.

And isn’t this how the Christian life works?

We do not trust Jesus one time and then coast.

Faith is lived moment by moment, day by day.

Following Jesus is daily.

Discipleship is daily.

Luke 9:23 NET 2nd ed.

23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Jesus does not say to take up your cross and follow me only when it is easy and convenient, but rather DAILY!

Daily surrender, trust, obedience, and dependence.

And here is what I love about this prayer: Jesus does not tell us to ask for tomorrow’s bread.

Because tomorrow’s bread is not today’s concern.

Tomorrow has its own worries.

Tomorrow has its own needs.

Tomorrow has its own grace waiting for it.

But today God has already provided today’s grace.

Sometimes we exhaust ourselves trying to carry tomorrow before it arrives.

We carry tomorrow’s burdens.

Tomorrow’s fears.

Tomorrow’s “what ifs," and meanwhile God keeps saying, "I gave you enough for today.

Ultimately this prayer points beyond physical bread.

Because the greatest need we have is not bread on the table; it is Christ Himself.

John 6:35 NET 2nd ed.

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.

The greatest provision God ever gave the world was not manna.

It was Jesus.

Manna sustained Israel physically.

Jesus sustains us eternally.

Bread keeps the body alive

Jesus gives life.

CONCLUSION

CLOSING SLIDE

Church, we spend so much of life chasing more.