September 2026

On Earth as it is in Heaven (Dependence and Provision) pt4

All Scripture reference taken from the New Living Translation

Here we are in part 4 of our series on the Lord’s Prayer...

We laid the groundwork for this series looking at how we are all made for connection... Connecting with our Creator... Our Father in heaven... And connecting with each other...

As the Kingdom of God is relational... We connect through relationship... We were not meant to go through life alone...

Now, the Lord’s Prayer can be a prayer used to help us settle our spirits and quiet our minds so that we can enter into the presence of God in a way that eventually leads to a conversation...

We start this prayer out with connection... Connecting with our Father in heaven...

Connecting with our Father in heaven brings us into the presence of the Kingdom of God...

Anytime we sense or feel, or experience the presence of God, His Kingdom is making an entrance into our natural realm here on earth...

In the Gospels, we’ll notice Jesus often made an entrance by saying...

Matthew 4:17 - ... “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

I like to think that Jesus was making an announcement that an experience with the Kingdom was about to happen...

The Kingdom of God was about to be felt and experienced in a real and tangible way by someone, or several people... And others would be a witness to what is taking place...

And as we experience the presence and power of God... We learn how to surrender to the perfect will of God here on earth as it is in Heaven...

Surrendering to God’s will and God’s way can be challenging... As it means we must lay down what we think is important and follow God’s lead in what His will is for our life... Whether that be for a season or whatever God may be leading us into...

It means that we let go of control and let God lead as He is the one who is in control...

Again, this can be challenging, but it can also be adventurous and exciting!

And as we rest on that verse for a while and think about what it means to say, “May Your Kingdom come soon, and may Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

We learn what it means to surrender and trust in God’s perfect will for our lives...

And this takes us into the next verse of the prayer... This is what we are looking at today... A verse that speaks of dependence and provision...

So we have connection (Our Father in Heaven) ... Reverence (May Your name be kept holy) ... Experience (May Your Kingdom come) ... Surrender (May Your will be done) ... And now dependence and provision.

Matthew 6:11 – Give us today the food we need.

NKJV – Give us this day our daily bread.

The NLT uses the word food, but most versions say bread... I’ll go back and forth for the sake of context...

We can notice as the prayer continues, Jesus moves from our surrender to God’s will... Understanding and trusting that God knows what is best...

To putting an emphasis on the reliance we are to have for God to meet our daily needs...

We rely on Him, we depend on Him, we trust in Him... As we are to depend on our Father in Heaven for all our needs...

Again, it all comes down to trust... As it is our daily dependence on God’s provision that teaches us to trust Him...

It is interesting to note that for Jesus to say, “Give us this day our daily bread, or give us today the food we need.”

He is bringing to remembrance, the history of the Jewish people when they once relied on God for their daily provision while traveling in the wilderness, as God provided manna from heaven for them to eat...

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

This is Moses reminding the Israelites of all God did for them... This passage might sound a little harsh...

But the Israelites were constantly complaining against God, while all the time God was supplying all their needs!

God supplied water from a rock while in the desert and the Israelites turned around and complained, “God can give us water from a rock, but can’t supply us bread and meat?!?” (This entire story is summarized in Psalm 78) ...

It’s easy for us to read about the Israelites and think, “How could they not see all that God was doing for them?”

Truth be told, we are not much different... We get so focused on what’s in front of us that we forget God is always moving in our favor...

But, nonetheless, God continued to supply all the needs of the Israelites, and He will do the same for us...

As He is the same yesterday, today and forever... But sometimes it takes a little discipline for God to get our attention... It took 40 years with the Israelites... So...

When we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread...Give us today the food we need.”

We can use the history of the Israelites as an example that no matter how difficult our circumstances are... Or no matter hard-headed we may be at times...

God will supply all our needs... But we must put some effort into it as well...

Yes, the manna, a bread-like substance fell from heaven... But the Israelites had to go out every morning and gather what they needed... God gave very specific instructions on how this was to be done...

What we can learn from this is that working is part of God’s purpose for our lives...

Working for what we need, or working toward success is what we do in joining God for provision...

It also builds character... Refusing to work is just being lazy... It’s biblical to work...

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - ... Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.

Proverbs 14:23 - Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Hard work pays off... And God provides... But we must do our part... We can’t just sit around and wait for God’s provision to drop in our lap...

But we also must realize, nothing is done in our own strength when we depend on God’s provision... We work together with Him... We lean on Him... We trust in Him... And in our dependence, He provides...

But it’s more than just physical sustenance (The things we need; Food, clothes, money, roof over our heads, etc.) ...

It’s also spiritual... God’s Word is our spiritual food... God’s word is our bread from heaven... It breathes life into our spirits... It encourages us...

Psalm 28:6-7 - 6 Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.

Deuteronomy 8:3 - ... People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

God’s Word... The Bread of life... Supplies us with all the wisdom we need...

God is the source of everything we need... Give us today the food we need...

1 Peter 1:3 - By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.

It is God who gives us everything we need for living a godly life... As it is He who supplies all our needs...

And we begin understanding all this the more we get to know Him...

2 Peter 3:18 - ... You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus by seeking first the Kingdom of God.

Out of our dependence on God should come a desire to know Him more...

Matthew 6:33 - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

Above all else... Seek the Kingdom of God... Seek the experience... Seek His presence... Seek His goodness... Seek the connection... Seek King Jesus...

Are we seeking to know God and who He is... And are we seeking to live according to the Scriptures... Are we seeking the Kingdom above all else?

When we do... He will provide all we need... Give us this day our daily bread... Give us today the food we need...

You see, our dependence on God means that we relate to Him as our source...

Our source of what? Literally everything!!

If God created everything that we see, touch and feel... The air that we breathe... The water we drink... The sun, moon, and stars, animals and plants... Humans!

If He created every living breathing thing... Then why would we not see Him as our source for everything... Strength, wisdom, relationships, healing, provision...

Matthew 6:26 - Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are?

Church, we cannot put our trust, our dependency in our career... In our education... In our relationships... In our retirement... In our finances...

All these things are the result of our dependency and trust in God our Father... For.

Matthew 6:8 - ... Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!

Listen... This verse in the Lord’s Prayer is for each day... Give us this day our daily bread... Give us today the food we need...

Essentially, we are saying, “God, grant me today as I depend on Your provision.”

Or... “God, thank you for another day as I depend on You and You alone for my provision... As You do Your part, I will do my part.”

How do we do this? How do we get to the point that trusting and depending on God to supply all our needs becomes an everyday part of who we are?

Philippians 4:6-7 - 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Instead of worrying about all things that keep our minds racing...

Pray about it... Talk to God about... (1 Peter 5:7) Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you...

Do this daily... Give us today... Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done...

As we’re talking to Him about our needs, thank Him for what He has done for you in the past... “Jesus, I remember that one time I was freaking out and wow, You did not disappoint... Thank you for that...

And as we’re thinking about, and meditating on all the good things God has done for us in the past... We patiently wait for this current need to be met.”

This is a learned behavior... It doesn’t come naturally, but when we get there, we realize that God is the supplier of all our needs... Give us this day our daily bread...

And the peace of God that exceeds anything we can understand is not a meditative state... Or something we conjure up on our own...

The peace of God that exceeds anything we can understand is the supernatural presence and power of God’s Kingdom that naturally fills us during our time of need...

And when the challenges of life seem overwhelming and we don’t know what to do, but somehow, we are managing life with this uncanny presence of peace within us...

This is when we know...

Philippians 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:19 - And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

This is the testimony of the Apostle Paul as he was in prison...

And it can be the words of our testimony as well when we experience the supernatural peace and provision of God’s Kingdom meeting us where we are at here on earth!

This same God... King Jesus... Who took care of me in my time of need can also supply you of all your needs...

Our dependence on God and the provision He supplies us with then becomes a living testimony to those around us...

Psalm 71:7-8 - My life is an example to many, because You have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising You; I declare Your glory all day long.

James 1:7 - Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens...

Give us today, or daily provision...

In Closing...

It’s all about trust... Trust and dependence go hand in hand... Are we able to lean on God... Are we able to trust in God for His provision...

Is our dependence on King Jesus a testimony to others as His provision meets all our needs... In all areas of life...

Life with Jesus is all about trust and He often tests our character in this...

What Jesus wants to do for us... He wants to do through us...

Give us today the food we need... Give us this day our daily bread...

As You give to us... We give to others... As we serve God, we also serve people...

This isn’t about us... It’s about trusting in God to take care of us so He can take care of others through us...

As God pours into us... Are we willing to pour into others?

Isaiah 58:7-9a – 7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.

Give us this day our daily bread... And may we give to others as God gives to us...

Amen

A Brief History of Labor Day and why it should be Celebrated

Vanderbilt University, Sep 6, 2021

Today, Labor Day mostly marks the end of summer celebrated with a long weekend that families spend together. Few know it’s bloody history, or how hard our ancestors fought for the 8-hour work day and safe working conditions we enjoy today.

A brief history of Labor Day

Harpers Weekly, May 15, 1886

In the 19th century the American Industrial Revolution ushered in the age of manufacturing, and brought with it 12- to 16-hour work days, seven days a week, in often unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Factories and mines were at the height production and accepted workers of all ages. At that time, education was not compulsory and for many families, having young children work was necessary. The manufacturing industry dramatically increased, replacing the agricultural sector. Labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal, organizing rallies, strikes and protests to reform working hours, pay and safety.

On August 20, 1866, the newly organized National Labor Union called on Congress to mandate an eight-hour workday. However, the 40-hour work week did not become law until 1940!

There were a number of violent protests by workers in America, but none so well known as the The Haymarket Riot of 1886 which became a symbol of the international struggle for workers’ rights.
Tennessee joined in the effort on March 11, 1891, when Gov. John P. Buchanan signed an act recognizing “that the first Monday in September of each and every year be set apart as a legal holiday, to be known as Labor Day.”

12 years after the Haymarket Riot, on May 11, 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives, which would prove to be a watershed moment in American labor history.

By the end of 1894, Labor Day had been passed as a Federal holiday to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers.

In 1909, the American Federation of Labor convention made a resolution adopting Labor Sunday prior to Labor Day to be celebrated for the labor movement’s educational accomplishments.

Workers Rights Activists And The History of Labor Day

Published on September 02, 2022 by Beatrice Alvarez (PBS)

Do You Know the History of Labor Day?

Parades and merriment for the whole family is truly how it all began. Labor Day is a national holiday that, for many, means barbecues and summer’s last hurrah. But did you know it started with two union leaders in New Jersey taking a day to recognize the hard-working people in their communities? (From New Jersey’s NJTV News)

The Revolutionist: Eugene V. Debs

Eugene V. Debs organized the Pullman Strike in 1894, a nationwide protest that resulted in federal labor laws to protect workers. The strike brought the economy to a standstill and spurred President Cleveland to make Labor Day a national holiday. Debs’ dedication to preserving dignity and demanding respect for the American laborer transformed the country.

For Jobs and Freedom: A Black Nouveau Special

The August 28, 1963 March on Washington was organized by labor activists A. Phillip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. The historical event was designed to shed light on workers’ rights, issues which Randolph and Rustin had dedicated their lives to. If you didn’t already know about them, get to know their work and how they united civil rights groups, labor unions, religious leaders, and ordinary people to raise their voices as one in Washington, D.C.

César Chávez and Dolores Huerta

César Chávez and Dolores Huerta founded the United Farm Workers, to protect the largely Mexican-born agricultural laborers. The union established a voice for those who were essential to Americans’ lives yet the inhumane working conditions rendered them invisible to many. Echoing the civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery, Huerta and Chávez organized a 300-mile procession of farmworkers from Delano to Sacramento, to draw attention to the plight of farm workers.

The Independent Lens documentary ​“Dolores” looks at her life and the great impact she made on workers’ and women’s rights. It is available to stream for station members.

In 1981 César Chávez reflected back on his life’s work in an interview with WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.

In this Spanish language clip from Latino Americans, revisit the 1966 farmworkers’ strike that took organizers from Delano to Sacramento.

Larry Itliong

When farmworkers unionized in the 1960s the agricultural industry in California had long profited from the exploitative conditions of predominantly immigrant labor. Filipino farmworkers in the grape fields were no exception. When they decided to strike, activist Larry Itliong convinced the United Farmworkers union to join them in what would be a historic (and victorious) grape boycott.

Rose Schneiderman

Schneiderman, born in 1882, was 16 years old in when she began working in a garment factory in New York City. Sweatshops were the norm and workers toiled in dangerous conditions, like the ones that killed 148 women in the Triangle Shirt Waist Company factory. Schneiderman helped organize an all-woman hat-makers union to demand equal pay and standard working hours. That was just the beginning of her lifelong advocacy for workers. (From American Masters’ Unladylike 2020)

Resting in the Lord

by Paul Smyth | Aug 14, 2024 | Rest, Trust

OK, full disclosure. Resting in the Lord is not always easy for me. Resting in the Lord poses an even greater challenge when all around, an exhausting mix of hurry—flurry—scurry, occupies my life. And, notwithstanding the devil always trying to derail me from spending time with God, finding any measure of rest can pose a significant challenge.

As you already know, taking care of our responsibilities can be a demanding pursuit, and for myself, I allow far too many distractions into my world—everything from keeping up on social media, to playing games on my computer, or taking care of my yard and chores around my home. I also stew about things that I should be trusting God for, so resting in Him can become even more difficult when I am not making the time to do so.

As I ponder these words of self-reproach, God also reminds me that I do not spend enough time in His word, that nourishing my soul is vital to basking in His love. Might you concur on any or all charges? I’ll read the Bible later, I say to myself, or, I’ll spend some quiet time with God once all the menial labour is done or when I flop into bed following an exhaustive day.

Bottom line is that I need to slow down and rest in the Lord. Do you?

I respectfully ask you to take a moment and think about your own life and all the busy pursuits that occupy each day. Are you praying? Are you taking the time to read your Bible, or just hanging out quietly with God to listen for his voice? Are you resting in the Lord?

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalms 37:7 NKJV)

This verse reminds us to be patient, especially when we are fretting about unresolved issues, or unanswered prayers, or even struggling with our faith to believe that God is working in every area of our lives and has our backs. Resting in the Lord is critical to finding the peace that we all thirst for as believers in Jesus.

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalms 62:1-2 NIV)

In our busy as a bee lives, we need to remember that only God can provide lasting rest for our souls. Only faith in Jesus will place us on solid ground and lead to our salvation. God is truly our ultimate place of refuge where nothing can shake us loose from His loving arms. With my mind freewheeling each day, I encourage myself as well as you to slow down and breath—seek out the Lord today and make time for Him before our collective heads hit the pillow.

As previously mentioned, I have work to do in all areas, so maybe we can spur each other on to spiritual serenity! And is resting at the feet of Jesus not the place we all yearn to be?

Last scriptural nugget to slow your frenzied pace and mine.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

Paul Smyth