Praying for Manna and not Steak
How much money is enough? How much house is enough? How many frozen dinners do we need? How many pairs of pants, dress shirts, and shoes are enough? I have grown up in a culture that strives for more and more. However, as I live this life, I crave less. I intentionally declutter regularly, even though I know I still have far more than my actual needs. The end of the Lord’s Prayer series at church focuses on praying for God to meet our daily needs (Luke 11:2-4). When we hear Jesus teach the disciples to pray, we should be reminded of Isreal in the wilderness receiving the manna. They weren’t given more than needed, and the manna even spoiled if they collected more (Exodus 16).
Social media and advertising in a consumer culture like ours lead us to believe we need the latest in every category. However, as I have collected these things, I have realized I’m just worshiping them. They promise to bring happiness, convenience, productivity, and so much more. Yet I have noticed that they lead me further away from the creator of the universe, who placed His image within me. Jesus understood that God wants to be the one that leads us in this life and provides our exact needs. Praying for God’s kingdom to come also means relinquishing our ideas of what our needs are within that kingdom.
There are those in this world who might teach you that a life of simplicity brings happiness, joy, or freedom. However, what truly sets us free isn’t less things. It’s submission to God’s design for our lives and this world. When Jesus teaches the disciples to pray for their daily needs, He reminds them that God is their provider and knows their needs. At the same time, the Israelites wouldn’t have wanted steak. I think to myself, why didn’t God provide a fancier meal? I would enjoy a steak in the wilderness more than some weird food called manna. I think God provides what we need, and I’m willing to surrender my dream of a steak for the provision of God, knowing I only really need manna.
What are you praying for in your life that is a want, not a need, in God’s eyes? Ask God to help you surrender this to him so he can provide for your needs.
Lord, help us see our actual needs and trust in your provision. Amen