Start your day with quick daily devotions: February 15, 2021

Scripture reading - Mark 6: 38-44: he took the five loaves and two fish and raised his eyes to heaven, gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. - Mark 6:41 Jesus teaches us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). But is this request only about bread? While it asks God for the food we need each day, it also covers the fact that all our needs are met by our loving Heavenly Father. So this applies to all of our basic needs for good health and well-being, recognizing that we depend on God every day for all good things. We should note something important, though. While some people claim that behind the petition for daily needs there is a request for "spiritual bread", this is not the main point here.

We need food every day to live. Without nourishment, we die. As the feeding of the five thousand clearly shows, Jesus knows that we need physical sustenance. When the crowds following him had fainted from hunger, he filled them with plenty of bread and fish. Asking God about our daily needs shows that we also trust him to provide for us. With the daily sustenance that God kindly offers us, we can rejoice in his generous goodness and be refreshed in our bodies to serve him and others with joy and gladness. So the next time you're about to grab a bite of food, remember who provided it, thank him, and use the energy gained to love God and serve others. Prayer: Father, give us today what we need to love and serve you and the people around us. Amen.