Too many of us have given stress and anxiety a permanent seat at our table.
We live layered between regrets from yesterday and worry about tomorrow. Yet in the Lord’s Prayer, we hear the simple decree that can set us free: GIVE US TODAY. Louie Giglio reminds us that as we lean into the truth that God will provide all that we need so we can live in a posture of TRUST.
Key Takeaway
By asking God to "give us today", we can lay down our stress and anxiety over what's happening in our lives and trust that Jesus is our daily bread and our daily grace.
We live in a stress sandwich. The stress sandwich is when you try to put a slice of today in between the two larger slices of the regret of yesterday and the worry of tomorrow.
Jesus gives us the Lord's Prayer as a great roadmap to not live in that stress.
When we say "give us today", we are recognizing that we can't go back to yesterday and we don't have tomorrow promised. So, we have today. It's pretty simple. We have given anxiety a seat at the table and written it into our story. But God has power and authority. He has a powerful name.
The way of freedom is seizing today and living with Christ today.
Our Father in Heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come (today),
your will be done (today),
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts (today),
as we also have forgiven our debtors (today).
And lead us not into temptation (today),
but deliver us from the evil one (today).
Matthew 6:9-13, (today) added
During the last message we learned about Jesus being our daily bread, and in this message, we'll see how he is our daily grace as well.
How do we TRUST God to give us today?
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Turn down the covers at night of His grace. Then lie down in His forgiveness over your life. The Hebrew mindset is going to bed trusting God and then waking up to see what God has done. It's His will to be done, not yours. Thank God for His grace as you fall asleep.
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Reflect that grace to others. Ephesians 4:32 says to forgive others just as in Christ, God forgave you. We love getting the shovel of grace, but we give barely a teaspoon to others. If that's what your daily grace looks like, you won't have peace. It's not sweeping under the rug or putting yourself in harm's way; it's reflecting what God has done for you so that as far as it depends on you, there's peace.
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Uproot the urge for revenge and offload justice to a just God. It's not shirking responsibility, if someone needs to be held accountable, then let that happen. It's more about changing position from being the judge and jury of every single thing that happens in your life to letting God, who sits on the Throne, be the Judge and Jury. Ask for justice over your life and theirs. Let truth prevail.
Psalm 3:5 shows the rhythm of daily grace, this is what happens when you uproot the urge to defend. You sleep at night.
Psalm 3:7 permits you to ask God to break the teeth of anything that's trying to speak less than the best.
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Start your morning with confidence that God is working. The day starts with "Lord, show me all You've been doing" not "Oh Lord, here's what I need you to do today".
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Take every step in the power that He supplies. He is enough. The same Christ that died to give you forgiveness, so you could lie down at night in the covers of His grace is the same Christ that was raised up from the dead so that the incarnation could happen. The same Christ lives in you. The same power that raised Him up is the same power available to you and me as we trust Him...not one time, but every time, not one moment, but every moment.
Jesus is enough and He is the grace that we need. Trust Him and let Him handle it. Surrender to His grace and reflect it to others. Uproot the urge for revenge and start your morning with confidence that God is working on your behalf. Then take every step in the power that He supplies.
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"Grace isn't a transaction that happened, it's an incarnation that happened. Grace isn't a thing, it's a person and He lives in every believer who puts their faith in Him, so that moment by moment, day by day, He is enough."
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Louie Giglio
Discussion Questions
How did Louie Giglio define the "stress sandwich"? Do you eat this daily?
Jesus tells us that our Father's name is hallowed. Do you really believe that His name is so powerful that it can lead to freedom?
What is the key to walking in freedom?
If you insert "today" into each line of the Lord's Prayer, what is the impact that it could have on your mindset?
How does the Hebrew mindset on when the day starts to shift our perspective? What does it mean to turn down the covers of grace and lie down in His forgiveness?
Read Ephesians 4:32. How are we to forgive and reflect grace to others?
How does Psalm 3:5 give us a rhythm of daily grace? What is the result of uprooting the urge to take revenge?
What does Psalm 3:7 give you permission to do?
How can you start your day with confidence that God is working? What shift can your prayers take when you know that God has been working on your behalf?
The same power that raised Christ from the dead is in you. How can you take every step in the power that He supplies?
Scripture References
Giving to the Needy1.“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.2.“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.3.But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4.so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.Prayer5.“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.6.But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.7.And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.8.Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9.“This, then, is how you should pray:“ ‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,10.your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.11.Give us today our daily bread.12.And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.13.And lead us not into temptation,6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.but deliver us from the evil one.6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’14.For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.15.But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.Fasting16.“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.17.But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,18.so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.Treasures in Heaven19.“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22.“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,6:22 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.your whole body will be full of light.23.But if your eyes are unhealthy,6:23 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!24.“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.Do Not Worry25.“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?26.Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27.Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life6:27 Or single cubit to your height?28.“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.30.If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?31.So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32.For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33.But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
5.I lie down and sleep;I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.6.I will not fear though tens of thousandsassail me on every side.7.Arise, Lord!Deliver me, my God!Strike all my enemies on the jaw;break the teeth of the wicked.
Sayings of King Lemuel1.The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.2.Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!3.Do not spend your strength31:3 Or wealth on women,your vigor on those who ruin kings.4.It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine,not for rulers to crave beer,5.lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.6.Let beer be for those who are perishing,wine for those who are in anguish!7.Let them drink and forget their povertyand remember their misery no more.8.Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute.9.Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy.Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character10.31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies.11.Her husband has full confidence in herand lacks nothing of value.12.She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.13.She selects wool and flaxand works with eager hands.14.She is like the merchant ships,bringing her food from afar.15.She gets up while it is still night;she provides food for her familyand portions for her female servants.16.She considers a field and buys it;out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.17.She sets about her work vigorously;her arms are strong for her tasks.18.She sees that her trading is profitable,and her lamp does not go out at night.19.In her hand she holds the distaffand grasps the spindle with her fingers.20.She opens her arms to the poorand extends her hands to the needy.21.When it snows, she has no fear for her household;for all of them are clothed in scarlet.22.She makes coverings for her bed;she is clothed in fine linen and purple.23.Her husband is respected at the city gate,where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.24.She makes linen garments and sells them,and supplies the merchants with sashes.25.She is clothed with strength and dignity;she can laugh at the days to come.26.She speaks with wisdom,and faithful instruction is on her tongue.27.She watches over the affairs of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.28.Her children arise and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her:29.“Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.”30.Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.31.Honor her for all that her hands have done,and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.