Whatever the precise emphasis on the Lord's Prayer concerning daily bread, the petition is a powerful expression of trust and dependence. We are commanded to pray that God would give us what we need, not what we want, or even what we desire, but what God sees as our actual needs. The more material needs are in view, the clearer the implication that God is concerned for the provisions of these needs.

God commands us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" so that we will be dependent upon him for all of our physical needs. Without that simple level of dependence, we can never depend upon God for the need for Christ who is the "bread of life" [John 6:35].