In the model prayer that Jesus gave us in Matthew chapter 6, after we've prayed for God's name to be glorified, for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, Jesus then teaches us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread.

This is a prayer of simple, humble dependence on God for our basic needs. Jesus is telling us to ask our Father for the provision we need today—not for tomorrow, not for next week or next year, but just for this day. It's a reminder that we are not self-sufficient; we are dependent on God for everything, even the most basic things like food and sustenance.
Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. God provided manna for them every single day. He told them not to gather more than they needed for that day—except on the day before the Sabbath, when they could gather for two days. If they tried to hoard it or store it up, it would spoil. God was teaching them to trust Him daily, to rely on Him one day at a time for their provision.

Jesus is teaching us the same thing in this prayer. When we pray “Give us this day our daily bread,” we're acknowledging that God is the source of all we need, and we're choosing to trust Him for today without anxiety about tomorrow. In the same chapter, just a few verses later, Jesus says, Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't plan or work responsibly. It means we bring our needs to God daily, trusting that He will provide what is necessary for today. Whether it's physical bread, strength for the day, wisdom for decisions, or grace to face challenges, we ask our loving Father to meet us right where we are, one day at a time.

So pray this simple prayer with confidence: “Father, give us this day our daily bread.” He hears, He knows your needs before you ask, and He delights to provide for His children.