Give US This Day Our DAILY Bread
A 5-day devotional series based on Luke 11:3 and the teaching of Pastor Josh Hawkins at Fremont Community Church.
Day 1: The Needy Human & The Inexhaustible God
"Give us each day our daily bread." - Luke 11:3
"All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things." - Psalm 104:27-28
Human beings are "contingent"-we cannot survive on our own. If we go without air for minutes, water for days, or food for weeks, we perish. In contrast, God is completely non-contingent. He has no needs, no deficits, and no limits. He is the overflowing fountain that never runs dry. Acknowledging our need is not a sign of failure; it is the doorway into daily communion with our generous Creator.
Reflection: Where have you been trying to act self-sufficient instead of resting in God's daily provision?
Prayer: Lord, I confess that I am needy and completely dependent on You. Thank You for being the fountain of life that never runs dry. I look to Your hand to supply all I need today. Amen.
Day 2: The Radical Power of "US"
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Corinthians 12:26-27
Jesus never instructed us to pray, "Give me my daily bread." He taught us to pray, "Give us our daily bread." In the kingdom of God, individual isolation is dismantled. When we enter into prayer, we carry our community with us. If our neighbor is hungry, we are hungry; if our brother lacks, we lack together. Prayer expands our hearts from private consumption to shared intercession.
Reflection: Who in your church or neighborhood is facing a physical or emotional need that you can lift up in prayer today?
Prayer: Father, deliver me from selfish praying. Give me eyes to see the needs of my brothers and sisters, and give us our daily bread together as Your family. Amen.
Day 3: Radical Community: No Needy Persons
"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had... And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them." - Acts 4:32, 34
The early believers took "Give us our daily bread" seriously. They lived so deeply in the love of the Holy Spirit that they cast aside the fear and shame of having needs. They shared openly, and those with abundance gave freely until lack was swallowed up by love. When the church functions as a genuine family, the world catches a glimpse of the kingdom of God.
Reflection: What keeps you from sharing your honest needs with others-pride, fear, or shame? How can you cultivate deeper trust in your church community?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, break down the walls of isolation and shame in our church. Teach us to share generously and receive humbly so that no one among us walks alone in lack. Amen.
Day 4: Bread for Today, Freedom from Tomorrow
"The Israelites did so; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just what they needed." - Exodus 16:17-18
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34
When God gave manna in the desert, He commanded Israel to gather only what was needed for that single day. Those who tried to hoard manna for the next morning found it full of worms. Why? Because God wants our trust rooted in Him, not in a storehouse. Anxiety is born when we try to carry tomorrow's burdens on today's grace. God promises bread for today-and when tomorrow arrives, His mercies will be brand new.
Reflection: What future worry or "what-if" scenario is stealing your peace today? Surrender tomorrow into God's hands.
Prayer: Jesus, I release my anxiety about the future. You are the God of today, and Your mercies are fresh every morning. Teach me to be content and grateful for today's bread. Amen.
Day 5: The True Bread of Life
"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'" - John 6:35
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" - Luke 22:19
Physical bread sustains our bodies for a few hours, but Jesus is the Living Bread who satisfies our souls for eternity. At the communion table, Jesus broke bread to signify His body broken for us. When we pray for daily bread, we are not merely asking for groceries-we are asking for Christ Himself to inhabit our homes, nourish our spirits, and lead our lives each day.
Reflection: Take a moment to thank Jesus for being the Bread of Life. How does feasting on His presence bring peace to your soul?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the true Bread of Life. Satisfy the deepest longings of my soul with Your presence. May my life be broken and shared to reflect Your love to the world. Amen.
