Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). But is this request only about bread? While it is asking God for the food we need each day, it also covers having all our needs supplied by our loving Father in heaven. So this applies to all our basic needs for good health and well-being, recognizing that we depend on God each day for all good things.

We should note something important, though. While some people claim that behind the petition for daily needs lies a request for “spiritual bread,” that’s not the main point here.

We need food every day in order to live. Without nourishment, we die. As the feeding of the five thousand clearly shows, Jesus knows we need physical sustenance. When the crowds following him were faint with hunger, he satisfied them with an abundance of bread and fish.

Asking God for our daily needs shows that we also trust him to provide for us. With the daily sustenance that God graciously offers, we can delight in his bountiful goodness and be refreshed in our bodies to serve him and others with joy and gladness.

So the next time you’re about to take a bite of food, remember who provided it, give thanks to him, and use the energy gained from it for loving God and serving others.