Give Us This Day

Living in Abundance and Contentment

One of my favourite books on my shelf is 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik. It is the autobiography of a lawyer who, by his own account, had a struggling law firm.

Things were not going well. He was struggling to pay his office rent, meet his payroll, keep his relationships together, and one year in particular had become especially difficult.

He writes that one day he went for a walk to clear his head. Tired, frustrated, and close to despair, he suddenly heard a voice say,

"Until you are grateful for the things you have, you will not receive the things you want."

He says he did not know who spoke to him and could not explain the words, but they left a deep impression on him. The voice was loud enough that he believed it must be important.

He then remembered something his grandfather had done many years earlier. As a young boy, his grandfather had given him a silver dollar and told him that if he wrote a thank-you letter for the gift, he would send him another one. His grandfather explained that if he showed gratitude for the little he had received, more would follow.

John never wrote the letter, and he never received the second silver dollar.

That memory became the turning point.

He decided that for the next 365 days he would write one genuine thank-you note every day.

He thanked people for the simplest acts of kindness—the doorman who greeted him each morning with a warm smile, his daughter's teacher for her dedication, colleagues, friends, and many others whose everyday acts he had previously taken for granted.

The results were extraordinary. Over the course of that year, his law practice began to recover, new clients came, relationships were restored, and eventually he received a federal appointment.

Like many of us, he realized that he had overlooked the ordinary blessings that had quietly filled his life all along.

His story made me stop and think.

How often do we spend our lives focusing on what we do not yet have while overlooking the abundance God has already placed in our hands?

Jesus said:

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."—John 10:10 (KJV)

The Greek word translated "more abundantly" (perissos) means overflowing, exceeding what is necessary, more than enough. Jesus was not speaking of merely existing; He came that we might experience the fullness of life.

Interestingly, psychologists tell us that people flourish when some basic needs are met: our physical needs, safety, love and belonging, a sense of worth, and purpose in life.

Long before psychology described these needs, God had already revealed His desire for humanity.

When God created Adam and Eve, He planted a garden for them. The trees were "pleasant to the sight, and good for food" (Genesis 2:9). Rivers flowed through the garden. There was gold in the land.

They had meaningful work, one another, fellowship with God, and every provision they needed. God's original design for humanity was abundance.

Although sin entered the world and changed everything, God's heart did not change.

Throughout Scripture, He continues to reveal Himself as the God who provides for every area of our lives.

He provides for our physical needs:

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)

He provides for our safety and security, promising to protect those who trust in Him (Psalm 91).

He provides love and belonging by placing us in families and relationships so that we have people to love us, encourage us, support us, and walk with us through life. Children are "an heritage of the LORD" (Psalm 127:3), and "a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

He gives us worth and purpose. Before we were born, He knew us (Jeremiah 1:5), and we are His workmanship, created for good works (Ephesians 2:10).

He gives us meaningful work and fulfilment, calling us to use the gifts He has given us and promising to bless the work of our hands (Deuteronomy 28:12).

As I reflected on these promises, another thought came to me.

Perhaps many of us are already living in the abundance we are praying for—we simply have not recognized it.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray:

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Not next month's bread.

Not next year's provision.

Today's bread.

Jesus knew that we would worry about life's necessities. That is why He said,

"For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."—Matthew 6:32 (KJV)

Before we even ask, our heavenly Father already knows what we need.

He pointed to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and reminded us that if God faithfully cares for His creation, how much more will He care for His children?

Perhaps the better question is this:

Do you already have many of the things psychology says are necessary for a flourishing life?

Is it possible that God has already provided more than you have recognized?

There is nothing wrong with asking God for more. Throughout Scripture, He reveals Himself as a generous Father who delights in blessing His children.

After Nathan confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba, God reminded David of all He had already given him:

"I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more."—2 Samuel 12:8 (NIV)

What an astonishing statement.

God was not rebuking David for wanting more. He was rebuking him for taking what God had forbidden instead of trusting the God who delights to give good gifts.

Perhaps that is the balance Scripture invites us to live in.

We can pray for tomorrow while thanking God for today.

We can ask Him for more while remaining grateful for what He has already given.

We can pursue His promises while living in contentment.

Gratitude does not deny that we still have needs; it helps us recognize that God has already been faithful while we wait for Him to provide again.

Paul wrote:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain."—1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV)

He also said:

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."—Philippians 4:11 (KJV)

And the writer of Hebrews encourages us:

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have..."—Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Where we are today may not be where we hope to be tomorrow. There may still be prayers we are waiting to see answered. There may be dreams we are still trusting God to fulfil.

But today, before you ask God for anything else, pause and look around.

Recognize today's bread.

Recognize today's blessings.

Recognize today's relationships.

Recognize today's strength.

Recognize today's grace.

Then thank the Father who has already been providing for you all along.

As we remain grateful for today's provision and trust Him for tomorrow's, we can rest in the confidence that the God who has promised abundant life will continue to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory.

Reflection

Read Matthew 6:31–34.

As you go about your day, ask yourself:

• What has the Lord already provided for me?

  
  

• Have I overlooked any of God's blessings because I was focused on what I do not yet have?

  
  

• How can I express my gratitude to God today as I enter a new month?

  
  

May the Lord bless you, increase you more and more, you and yours, and fill your heart with gratitude as you trust Him for today's bread and tomorrow's provision.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend, and God willing, I'll see you again on Monday.