Our Daily Bread - His Best

When we go to a bakery, we want to know if the bread or the treats were made fresh. 

Why is that?

Could it be that we know that today’s bread will be better than yesterday’s bread?

Yesterday’s bread is still good of course, it hasn’t expired and there is no mold on it, but fresh bread just tastes different (especially when it’s warm. Mmmm). 

When the Israelites were in the wilderness and God fed them with manna from Heaven (Exodus 16:13-26). He told them not to store any, except on the day prior to the Sabbath since the Sabbath was a day of rest. 

I was listening to Daily Bread this morning (Pat Barrett, Kari Jobe – Daily Bread (Official Lyric Video)). As I meditated on the words, I remembered what one of the women on an episode of Better Together (When Relationships Change) had said concerning her devotional and the daily bread. She shared that each day she read her devotional, it spoke specifically to what her heart needed on that day. She saw each day’s devotional as her daily bread.

As I considered what she shared, in light of the song, I began to think about our request for daily bread in the Our Father prayer and God’s instructions to the Israelites in the wilderness. The instructions aren’t solely about daily dependence on Him. God wants to give us His best each day. When we cling to what we had yesterday we have no room for what He wants to give us today. Even though yesterday’s bread is available, He wants to give us something fresh - His best -  today and everyday following. 

When we consider life, everyday does not bring the same challenges. Thus, everyday will not respond to the same solutions. Each day requires its own intervention for success and while there will be times when we may need to rely on yesterday’s bread, the new is often what we are called to experience.Yesterday’s bread may still be good but we need today’s bread for today’s journey.

Here are some things to remember:

1. As we seek the Lord daily, through prayer, worship, Bible study, personal devotion time, He meets us with what we need

   
   

   -There have been times that I have had questions and during my devotion I encounter the answer. My favorite is when I am “behind” on my devotional and when I get back to it and pick up where I left off the answer I’m looking for is where I returned versus where I “should” have been. 

   
   

   - Another of my favorite daily bread experiences is when He meets me in books (mostly Christian) that I’m reading. Often He will minister to me through the stories and testimonies shared. In the past I used to binge read, but recently, I have been enjoying reading at a much slower pace. It’s been nice to read a few pages a night and experience Him giving me what my heart needs in that moment. Often my heart is so full after a few pages that it’s impossible to read anymore as I take time to digest what He’s just fed me. 

2. Part of the daily bread is admitting our need but the other part is trusting God is faithful to provide and will do just that

   
   

   - God knew exactly where the Israelites were and rained the mana there. There is no record of Him accidentally sending the mana to Moab or some other nation. They cried out in need and He answered them. They didn’t have to search for what they needed, God located them

   
   

   - There have been many times when I’m walking through a challenge or need encouragement or an answer and a friend sends a devotional or randomly messages me with just the right words. Or I listen to music during moments of difficulty and the right song is playing at that exact moment I need it and it ministers to the pain in my heart. Now, when I have a hard time, I turn on my music expecting that He will find me as I make myself available to hear. And He always does. 

Be Hungry Daily and Be Blessed.

Father, thank you for being a God that desires to sustain your people daily. Forgive us for not trusting Your character and provision. Help us to see Your instructions from the correct perspective and trust in Your love for us. Let our awareness of Your love for us inspire us to obedience and total dependence and trust in You! Let our hearts be grateful for yesterday’s bread and hungry for today’s bread that you desire to feed us. Fill us up with You, Lord and lead us into the way of everlasting. In Jesus’ Precious, Holy, and Mighty Name, Amen.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.