Introduction and Index

Jesus said, "This is how you should pray, "Our Father in heaven: may your holy name be honoured; may your kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need." - Matthew 6 v 9 - 11

You must never think that you have made yourselves wealthy by your own power and strength. Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich. - Deutoronomy 8 v 17 - 18

I ask you. God, to let me have two things before I die: keep me from lying, and let me be neither rich nor poor. So give me only as much food as I need. If I have more, I might say I do not need you. But if I am poor, I might steal and bring disgrace on my God." - Proverbs 30 v 7-9

My Father, even as I pray "give us today the food we need" it comes home to me just how much I owe you and how dependent I am on you. I don't want to be lazy, avoiding working to keep both myself and those for whom I am responsible, but I do realise that it is you that has given me both the talents and skills and also the physical strength that enable me to work. I pray that you will go on doing this day by day so that I may prove that the plans you have for me are good and loving - plans that will bring me prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring me the kind of future I hope for.

Thank you for all you have given me. Please, with your other gifts, give me wisdom so that I may use my wealth wisely, knowing what to spend on myself, what to spend on other people, how much to save for the future, and how much I should give away to those in need.