Feed Us!

Thomas Watson wrote that in this petition there are two thins observable–the order and the essence. Here's what he means by the order of the fourth petition in the Lord's Prayer. Our prayer for physical provision is sandwiched by petitions of more eternal significance. It follows our prayer regarding God's glory, kingdom, and will and precedes prayers for forgiveness and holiness.

The unbeliever prays only the fourth petition. The believer prays the fourth petition in the context of the first three and the last two. The fourth petition—our request for worldly provision—is a worthy request. But it must not dominate our prayers as it often does. We consider four traits of this prayer for God's provision.