What does Matthew 6:11 mean?

Give us this day our daily bread. — Matthew 6:11 KJV

Give us today our daily bread. — Matthew 6:11 NIV

Reflection on Verse for Today

This verse is a remarkable segment from the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, the Lord’s Prayer. It holds profound spiritual and practical significance, reminding us not only of our daily physical sustenance but also of our spiritual nourishment.

On the surface, “Give us this day our daily bread” is a straightforward plea for God to provide the food we need each day. As Christians, we understand and acknowledge God as our provider, affirming that everything we have is a gift from Him. This acknowledgement nurtures an attitude of gratitude within us, constantly reminding us to give thanks for all we receive.

Yet, this verse offers so much more when we delve deeper. “Daily bread” is not just about physical sustenance. Bread is often used as a metaphor in the Bible. Consider when Jesus proclaimed, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). By saying this, He implied that He is our spiritual sustenance. So, when we ask God to give us our daily bread, we are also asking Him to feed us spiritually through His Word and His presence. We are asking for wisdom, strength, peace, and love to meet the challenges of each day.

Moreover, this verse reminds us to live in the present, not in the past or the future. It doesn’t say give us this week our weekly bread or this year our yearly bread. No, it’s “Give us this day our daily bread.” This subtle instruction prompts us to trust God for our needs each day, mirroring Jesus’s teaching not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). The focus on “daily” also reflects the concept of manna in the Old Testament, where the Israelites were given exactly what they needed for each day.

This verse, therefore, guides us to remain in the present, leaning on God for our immediate needs, both physical and spiritual. It’s a simple phrase with profound wisdom, reminding us to live in a state of dependence on God, gratitude for His provision, and readiness to receive spiritual nourishment from Him every single day.

In reflection, let us strive to embrace the truth of this “verse of the day” from Matthew 6:11. Let us pray for our daily bread, trusting in God’s provision, and let us also hunger for the Bread of Life, seeking spiritual nourishment from Christ, who fulfills our deepest needs. May our hearts be ever grateful and reliant on God, the provider of all our needs.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for this new day and for the blessings it brings. As I ponder on the verse of the day, Matthew 6:11, “Give us this day our daily bread,” I am reminded of Your faithful provision and endless love.

Lord, I ask You to provide for all my needs today. Give me the sustenance I require to meet the physical demands of the day, and bless me with a contented heart that rejoices in Your provision, no matter how much or how little that may be. Help me to remember that everything I have comes from You, and nurture in me an attitude of gratitude.

But Lord, I recognize that I need more than just physical sustenance. You are the Bread of Life, and without You, my spirit is malnourished. Feed me today with Your Holy Word. Fill my heart with Your love, my mind with Your wisdom, and my soul with Your peace. Guide me in Your ways and help me grow closer to You.

Teach me, Father, to live in the present, to focus on the blessings and challenges of this day, not those of the past or the future. Grant me the grace to depend on You for my daily needs, and the wisdom to trust in Your perfect timing and provision.

I surrender my worries, my plans, and my desires to You, and I ask You to guide me according to Your will. Fill me with Your presence and grant me the courage and strength to face whatever this day brings.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.