In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught that when we pray, we should ask God to “give us today our daily bread,” Matt. 6:11.  The Apostle Paul wrote “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Phil. 4:6-7 ESV. 

Prayer is about much more than asking God for stuff, but God did tell us to ask Him for stuff – the most basic stuff.  We are to ask Him to supply our needs every day.  God wants to be involved in the everyday things of our lives.  He also wants us to know that He is involved in the everyday things of our lives. 

Steve Grusendorf of the Christian and Missionary Alliance National Office reminds us that God wants us to come boldly before His throne when we ask Him to provide for us.  Hebrews 4 tells us Jesus cares deeply about our needs, because He has also experienced our needs.  He understands us.  He knows what it is like to be us.  Because He does, we are to pray with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need, (Heb. 4:16). 

But we are also instructed to come humbly before God’s throne when we pray.  God is all-powerful.  We aren’t.  He is completely holy.  We aren’t.  He will be our Judge, and He knows everything.  So, James 4:10 tells us to humble ourselves before the Lord. 

How do we pray with boldness and humility at the same time?  By fully recognizing Who God is and what He has done for us.  When we know God’s character and recognize His holiness, justice, power and omniscience, it humbles us.  We know we do not belong in His presence based on who we are.  But, when we comprehend His undeserved love, mercy and forgiveness for us; when we recognize that He is already sustaining us and providing for us, then we are encouraged to come into His presence based on Who He is. 

When we get an accurate picture of both God’s majestic transcendence and His undeserved love and mercy, then we can come in boldness and humility at the same time.  We can humbly submit to God’s will as we ask Him for help, and we can ask with boldness because we know God always seeks our greatest good. 

So, come to God daily in humble recognition of Who He is in relationship to who you are, and come to Him in confidence because He loves you and wants to provide what is best for you.  Ask Him each day to give you – and us – the things needed for today.