Like the Godhead, humanity is a three-fold entity. Each of us has a body, a soul, and a spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God’s plan of salvation, therefore, includes the redemption of your body (Romans 8:23), plus the saving of your soul (Hebrews 10:39) and your spirit (1 Corinthians 5:5).
There is no aspect of your human nature that is of little or no concern to God. Thus, the second half of Jesus’ model prayer—the part which attends to your fundamental needs—begins with the simple request of “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
The word “Give” emphasizes your need for God’s providence. Daily bread is not a right or a debt owed you; it is a gift. It is a reminder of your utter inability to be independent of God in any way. Like all spiritual blessings enjoyed in Christ, every material blessing comes from God’s generous mercy and benevolent kindness.
The word “us” emphasizes your need for proper stewardship. God blesses His children so they can be a blessing to others (Ephesians 4:28). His material blessings are not for hoarding but for sharing. The rich man in Luke 16 and the prosperous farmer in Luke 12 were horrible stewards because they had “I” problems.
The words “this day” emphasize your need for persistent gratitude. Life on this earth is given in one-day increments. God’s mercies and compassions are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Your gratitude for His material and spiritual provisions ought to be gratefully expressed daily.
