Only when I pray is a short series of thought-provoking reflections based loosely around the theme of prayer as found in Luke 11:1-13.

Today’s readings are:

Exodus 16:11-16a

And Jehovah said to Moses, “I have heard their complaints. Tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat and, in the morning, you will be stuffed with bread, and you shall know that I am Jehovah your God.’” That evening vast numbers of quail arrived and covered the camp, and in the morning the desert all around the camp was wet with dew; and when the dew disappeared later in the morning it left thin white flakes that covered the ground like frost. When the people of Israel saw it, they asked each other, “What is it?” And Moses told them, “It is the food Jehovah has given you. Jehovah has said for everyone to gather as much as is needed for his household. The Living Bible

Deuteronomy 8:3

He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone1 to sustain you, but on everything that the [Lord] says. The Good News Translation

In the Lord’s Prayer there is the suggestion of a request for daily bread (found in Matthew 6:11 and Luke 11:3) but today’s main readings go back much earlier to Moses and the Children of Israel while they wandered in the wilderness. God provided for them – enough for each day – and they were greatly discouraged from storing up anything more than what they needed for each day. This is perfect advice for us today when we think about our stacked supermarket shelves and our fridges and cupboards bulging with BOGOF offers that tempted us to buy more than we needed, only for us to later throw out what we didn’t need in the first place (while conveniently forgetting there are those who have nothing).

Listen now to today’s song, Give us this day.

This song touches directly on having enough; the essentials of life - daily bread, somewhere safe to lay our head. Enough to allow us to live and to see us through another night and of not having so much that we then have to throw it away.

In a nutshell, this phrase in the Lord’s Prayer is advising us to pray for the essentials of life; enough to live, breathe, thrive, share – but never waste!

The Lord’s provision for us should never be in doubt. Most of our excessive purchases, whether food, material luxuries or otherwise are made from a response to our want (greed) rather than need. I refer to this in the song as the wasteful lie with our eyes caught by the sparkle of want for something in much the same way a Magpie spots a twinkling jewel.

We are extremely fortunate to live the way we do in our land of plenty, but there’s a not-so-fine line between having too much and having just enough. Today’s reflection is not about excess. It’s not about need-versus-greed and it’s certainly not about wanting to make us feel guilty about what we have. But it is about recognising that everything we have has come from the Lord and reminding us to be thankful for it. All of it.

What the Lord provides is enough, never too much; unless, of course, he requires us to give it away! Let that sink in for a moment.

Hebrews 13:5

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you…” The Message

Philippians 4:12-13

I know what it’s like not to have what I need. I also know what it’s like to have more than I need. I have learned the secret of being content no matter what happens. I am content whether I am well fed or hungry. I am content whether I have more than enough or not enough. I can do all this by the power of Christ; He gives me strength. NIRV

Be relaxed, is how Peterson advises us to be in The Message – good advice. I remember my mother saying to me more than once, “Content yourself,” and even though I can’t remember the specifics of the many circumstances around why she said it, I admit that I must have needed to hear it. And yes, it was good advice.

In relation to whether he had too much or not enough Paul, in our Philippians reading, acknowledged it was because of the Power of Christ who gave him his contentment. That suggests to me we may need help from on high to help us manage our status of contentment, we are unlikely to succeed for long in our own strength.

May our prayer today be; Give us this day just enough, not too much, unless you want us to give it away!

  1. This is the verse Jesus was referring to when He was being tempted in the wilderness by Satan – ‘The scriptures say, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 ↩