Part Five: Supplication
Matthew 6:6-13
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”
I did not grow up with praying parents but, to their credit, they did send me to a Christian school during my first two years of education. It was there that I was instructed in some of the basics, such as memorizing Psalm 23, the Apostle’s Creed, as well as The Lord’s Prayer, for which I am very grateful. Often at night, when I lay in bed unable to sleep, I recite them and they calm my heart and settle my mind, enabling me to turn off my brain and shut out the cares of the world.
When Jesus was asked by His disciples how they should pray, He gave them a simple but profound model for prayer. It offers us a model for our pattern of prayer this week: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication which is our focus for today. Often we see supplication as the part of our prayer time where we address our needs, going down a list item by item. Our measure of God’s faithfulness is often based on whether God answered ‘yes,’ or ‘no’—a pretty black-and-white view.
Supplication in The Lord’s Prayer can be summarized in two parts: “Your will be done,” and “Give us this day our daily bread.” Firstly, Jesus reminds us that our prayers should always be offered according to the Father’s will which was the guiding principle of Jesus’ life. He was willing to do the will of the Father no matter the cost, even death on the cross. When we ask according to God’s will, we are surrendering that request to His control and accepting that whatever the outcome, it is for our best. His answer will always be consistent with His character and consistent with His Word. Secondly, the Lord instructs us to ask for our “daily bread.” Does Jesus also care about other needs—shelter, clothing, and means to earn money for those needs? Of course!
• Daily bread includes the necessities of life and the means to earn it. We should pray for the Lord to provide for our daily needs for healthy food, a roof over our heads, clothing, and anything else that falls under the “needs” category. Pray also for a job that provides good, honest work.
• Daily bread includes our spiritual food, God’s Word. We should pray that God would help us make being in His Word a priority so that we would know how to live according to His laws.
• Daily bread includes those in the Church, God’s family with whom we share community. Pray that we would be faithful to attend church, receive the communion of bread and wine, and be involved in the building of relationships within the body, and without, where we can serve in His name. Pray that we would always be sensitive to the needs of others and lift those needs to the Father.
• Daily bread includes our salvation through Jesus, the Bread of Life. If you have not already done so, pray to receive His gift of eternal life, which comes when we place our faith in Jesus.
We should also always pray for daily dependence on the Holy Spirit, that we shine the light of Christ in a dark world. His Word reminds us, “The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Call to Him, dear readers, with your supplications. He is waiting and listening for the voice of each heart.
Our Father, we offer our praise and thanks to You today for always inclining Your ear to hear us. As we offer our supplications to You, may we be ready to receive Your daily bread, according to Your will, which is all we need. Trusting in You, Jehovah Jirah, our Provider, we pray. Amen.
~ painting by Pam Britton
