As children, my siblings and I learned a prayer that we sometimes recited 
together before a meal:
“God is great, God is good,
and we thank Him for our food.
By His hand we all are fed.
Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.”
Although our parents preferred that we offer a prayer from our hearts, rather than reciting a memorized one, this little grace contains some good theology and several concepts that are appropriate for us to learn at an early age.
First, there is the statement that we have a great God. It’s good to start any prayer with adoration of our great and mighty God. The Scriptures are filled with verses that affirm His greatness. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (Psalm 145:3, NIV). “For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3). “No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power” (Jeremiah 10:6). Surely our God is great, and we praise Him for His goodness to us.
Next in the little prayer is a reminder to maintain an attitude of thanksgiving. Again, the Scriptures are filled with verses that admonish us to thank God for all things and in all situations. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”
(1Thessalonians 5:18). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). Parents admonish their children to “Say thank-you” to others. How often do we remember to thank our heavenly Father who gives so abundantly to us?
The next phrase of our little prayer contains the admission that God provides for us. The Scriptures give numerous reminders of God’s provision for His children. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Our short prayer closes with a request for God to supply our daily bread. This, of course, reflects Jesus’s statement in his prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, KJV). These words remind us that God literally provided daily bread (manna) for the Israelites for forty years while they were in the wilderness. In the same way, He meets our daily needs. He is a trustworthy God, and we can depend on Him. As our little prayer suggests, it is good for us to take a step of faith, asking God to meet our needs, and trusting Him to do so. He has never let me down.
I’m glad my parents taught us this prayer. I’m grateful that they also instilled in me the realization that God is holy, loving, and good, and He takes care of each of His children in a great and good way.
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