I often make homemade bread, and while kneading the dough there is often time to think, and I've thought many times about how we are to pray for today's bread. It seems the Lord has been teaching me through different means and thoughts about how closely to Him He wants us to walk, and to trust.
I know that I am not alone in desiring to have the future planned out for me... to desire to "know" what needs to be done today in order to prepare for tomorrow... so many things in the future that are not known to us, and yet... they cause worry. If truth be told, all of us, at some point in our lives have worried about tomorrow... only to find that once tomorrow came, that problem that we had worried so about... took care of itself without any help or intervention on our part!
And so... that is why this part of the Lord's prayer is so important in our day-to-day lives. We cannot fear, or even despair over tomorrow, because today is what we have. And so we are to pray... give us this day our daily bread... give me today Lord what I need to get through this day... give me the strength to face the problems today... give me the courage to do your will today... give me what I need today to walk by faith.
And so, when we begin to remind ourselves moment by moment throughout the day, when trials and tests come, and when the future seems rather uncertain, and perhaps a little fear rises up in your heart at the thought of "tomorrow"... and all the "what ifs".... yet that is when we are to stop those thoughts in their tracks, and replace them with... Lord give me today what I need... and I leave tomorrow in your hands. For really... that is all we can do. We can't change tomorrow, because what happens today, may completely change what happens tomorrow... and we waste so much time worrying about fixing tomorrow, when today is where our focus needs to lie.
As I made my daily loaves of sourdough bread this week...
Trying out my homemade almond milk as a substitute for the water called for in the recipe...
And using my bread making machine to knead the dough for me.... (and being very thankful for the bread machine who did the mountain of kneading work for me so that I could be busy with other things!)
And as I patted out the dough into shape...
and prepared it into the two loaves ...
to be put into my coconut oil greased loaf pans...
which then were left to rise for several hours (sourdough raises slowly, sometimes 7-8 hours or overnight!)
I couldn't help but be reminded over and over as I spent time with the bread...
... how thankful I was for this lesson the Lord had taught me. Today, this bread is enough... and tomorrow when it comes... the Lord will provide my bread for that day too, and my heart was grateful for the peace that came just knowing that today, I have enough! And since tomorrow is not here yet, I will be grateful for this bread, for its value today.
This little line in the Lord's prayer has taken on such deep meaning for me now... and my "daily bread" will always cause me to stop, pause, and ponder with a grateful heart, the things that the Lord has provided for and taken care of for me today, and ... I can go on about my day, leaving tomorrow in His capable hands! There is a great peace that comes in this.
I pray that your heart will be full of His daily bread today, and let the rest of it go... whatever tomorrow holds, leave it with Him, and be thankful for today.... indeed dear Lord, give us THIS DAY our daily bread :)
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What an incredibly insightful look at a familiar scripture. You're growing in wisdom and sharing it well. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLaura of Harvest Lane Cottage
Thank you Laura, so sweet of you to stop by, and I always appreciate your kind words and visit so much. I pray your day today is blessed abundantly :)
DeleteNice thoughts! Also, that's a great idea to have the machine knead for you. I may have to get out my machine one of these days!
ReplyDeleteYes, having the bread machine do the kneading for me has been a wonderful thing. This way I can still shape the bread and let it rise, but the heavy duty work of kneading the sourdough is eased. Glad you found some inspiration here :) Have a wonderful day!
DeleteYour post is very insightful and know i could now never make bread without thinking about this post. I love kneading bread to me there's something pioneer about it and I feel a connection with women's ancestry. Thank you for stopping by and letting me know you liked my cottage gardens..it was sweet of you!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy making and kneading bread too, but sourdough takes such a long time to knead. I've found using the bread machine helps with the kneading, and I can get other things done. I appreciate your visit here today, and hope that your day is blessed and enjoyable in your beautiful garden! :)
DeleteThis was a marvelous analogy. I heard a lesson in Alabama recently about the fresh bread that had to be put in the temple daily (if not more often). It was incredible how it was paralleled to the daily manna God provides for the children of Israel, too. Jesus is our Bread of Life, indeed. What do people do Who don't know our Savior?! May we introduce them to the One Who can only satisfy our souls!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kelley~
It is a wonderful thought to think about the manna being fresh and new each day, which makes me think of the scripture that says His mercies are new every day! I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts about the manna! Indeed, I can't imagine my life without the Lord, walking each day with Him is such joy, and it is my prayer and desire to share this "BREAD" with others, everywhere I go! Beautiful thought Kelley, so appreciated, and praying the Lord continues to bless you richly :)
DeleteSuch a beautiful post and so wonderfully thought out... Your bread looks lovely, too.. God bless, my friend.. xo
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Faye, and I'm so thankful you enjoyed my bread post... as Kelley said above... Jesus is the true BREAD of life from which we can eat and truly be satisfied! Praying your day is blessed and surrounded with the presence of the Lord :)
DeleteI so needed to read this post this morning. I am struggling with something, and your post helped me to see I should leave it with God, and enjoy the blessings in this day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! Thank you!
Debbie
xo
I'm thankful the Lord was able to bless you as well through this lesson I am learning! It is a day by day thing, being able to be thankful for what we have today, and leaving tomorrow in His hands. I pray the sweet presence of the Lord is with you today :)
DeleteI have been saying those words for decades and never really thought about them. I am so glad you did. Perfect timing...I was worrying about tomorrow and tomorrow, today, and I should've been focused on right now. Thank you for pulling me back in. I will certainly never say those words without thought again.
ReplyDeleteI think we all spend undue time worrying about tomorrow, especially things that there is no way we can change. I am learning each day to let those things go, and just be thankful for what I have today. Mind you, I am learning! I too, can never think of bread again in the same way! Have a beautiful and blessed day!
DeleteTruly inspiritional post. Thank you so much for sharing
ReplyDeleteHugs and Blessings,
❤️Ana
Thanks Ana. Praying for the Lord to be with you during the difficult moments you are facing through the day! It is easier taking things one day at a time, for sure :) Have a beautiful and blessed day :)
DeleteThis was a precious post...full of so much truth! I admire your beautiful loaves of bread. That is something I have longed to learn to do, but it seems, it is one of those things for which there is never time. :( Maybe it is a good thing, because I know I would over-indulge!! LOL! Thank you for the spiritual analogy concerning the bread. I enjoyed it so much!
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish we were closer... baking bread is something I've just learned to do myself in the last few years, and it has become such a joy! I would be glad to share the little I know, lol! Indeed, I love bread, but I have found that sourdough is the only bread that I can eat that I can still get along with later in the day... lol! Indeed, the spiritual analogy about bread is a wonderful thought, so many wonderful analogies can be made about bread, but for now, I am learning today HE is enough :) Appreciate your visit and kind words, and pray that the sweet presence of the Lord be with you today! :)
DeleteSo much wisdom in this post, M! And, I often worry about tomorrow-especially when it applies to something my kids are going through. One day I will turn it over to the Lord and the next day I take it back again. I am great at reclaiming the worry I have given away.
ReplyDeleteHow did the coconut milk work? I so miss my bread machine. I used one for years and wore the darned thing out. I can almost smell that bread baking from here. xo Diana
You know Diana, I think if truth be told, we are all guilty of "reclaiming our worries"! I think it helps to have a visual reminder though that we can just let it go into the Lord's capable hands. The almond milk worked great! The recipe called for water, and so I knew the milk would be just fine, and it was. The bread was very tender and moist. Maybe you need to find another bread machine, and try some sourdough. I feel miserable when I eat any other kind of yeast bread, but I can have a small daily portion of my sourdough bread, without any tummy troubles. Usually yard sales and thrift stores are great places to find bread machines, I got mine at a yard sale for $5 lol! I'll probably be wearing it out soon! Glad to see you back home! Have missed your posts :)
DeleteI absolutely love this post! Thank you so much for sharing this insight! Your almond milk and bread look scrumptious! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you stopped by for a visit, and appreciate your kind comments! Hope you are having a wonderful day!
DeleteI have never thought of that line in this way. It is so comforting to do so. I often think of "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" Matthew 6:34 - but that is not quite the same at all as Give us this day our daily bread. What a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, it is such a comforting thought to know that He is able to provide our daily bread, and we can rest today leaving the future in His capable hands. I have leaned upon this truth many times recently throughout my day. Appreciate your visit and your thoughts. May the Lord bless you in all you do :)
DeleteBeautiful post and beautiful bread! I feel blessed that I don't worry much. I just try to make the best of things. I loved the movie, The best little Exotic Marigold Hotel because of the line in it. "Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
You know, I don't worry much either... I would rather be doing than worrying... but I can't deny that I have those little thoughts that come, and I am learning to put them too in their place... in Him all is well! Appreciate your visit and your thoughts, they mean so much. May the Lord continue to bless you in all you do :)
DeleteWow this is so insightful. The bread and the message in this post are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lux! I really appreciate your visit, and pray the Lord continues to bless you today in all you do! :)
DeleteOh...what darling little loaves of sourdough bread, and such lovely thoughts on being given each day our daily bread... Being an avid breadmaker myself, I too enjoy the time I spend reflecting on certain things close to my heart at the time whilst kneading the dough... It is a time of quietness, even though my hands are busy with the constant folding and kneading...just like our lives within the Master's capable hands...:)
ReplyDeleteWe are truly blessed to be able to wait upon the Lord for our daily bread - strength, grace, mercy, provision...
Oh, I loved what you shared here today...just what I kneaded...oops! I mean 'needed' to read!
Blessings and love in Christ!
Kelly-Anne
Haha! I love the "kneaded" idea... so perfect for this thought! I agree that while in working around my home, many times that is where the Lord and I have the most beautiful conversations, and I learn so much. Indeed, I can't imagine my life without the peace that comes from Him. It is so wonderful to be His child, and we truly are blessed! I do appreciate your visit, and your thoughts so much, as the love of the Lord just shines through your words. May the Lord continue to bless you in all you do today :)
DeleteGood Morning Friend! It's been a while since I have been on and wow...this was such a good post. Such a good reminder to all of us struggling with what tomorrow will bring. Why should we fear? Why should we worry? God's got a much bigger plan in store for us all. I read His book, I all ready know who wins, so why do we need to doubt what the Lord has in store? I love it! I love that He gives us a portion each day. Whatever it looks like, it's ours to take if we want it. Today is a good day. I will be happy in the things laid before me. Laundry, baking, taking care of my family. The simple things.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that bread... I have yet to try and conquer a sour dough bread.
I am so glad I stopped by today. I hope you have a wonderful week and a wonderful and safe Independence Day!
Blessings and Hugs, Amy
Hello Dear Amy! I know that you have been quite busy with all of summer's activities, and I appreciate you taking the time to stop by for a chat! So thankful that this was a blessing to you - in fact, I've been back several times just to re-read it myself, lol! The Lord has just enough that is sufficient for today, and it is a beautiful thing to rest knowing that! Indeed, all the simple things of life that have to be taken care of, we can do joyfully, knowing the bigger things are in His capable hands. Great peace in knowing that!
DeleteI hope someday you try some sourdough, I've had so many wonderful adventures with it!
I pray you and your family enjoy a safe and wonderful holiday weekend, and hope to stop by to see you soon! May the Lord continue to bless you with the richness of His presence! :)
Morning, What I liked about this also was how long it takes for sour dough bread to rise. We must also be reminded that His time frame is different then ours! This was so good, and I am glad I did, read it this morning!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this day to the fullest!
Blessings, Roxy
I love your analogy with the slow rising sourdough bread, and the sometimes "slow" promises of the Lord being fulfilled in our lives... yet, when we are patient, and wait, great things happen, when we know and understand His ways are not like our ways. Praying the Lord continues to bless you and your family with the richness of His presence! Many hugs to you :)
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