How to Pray for Food

Our intellect, talents, abilities – everything we have – comes from one source: God. Everything comes from God because He is the One Who owns everything. That includes the finances, properties, and other possessions that we have. We have them all because of God’s grace and mercy in our lives. Even those who aren’t Christians have the things they have not because of their capabilities but because God has shown them grace—a common grace that God shows both to the righteous and the wicked. 

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.

[Deuteronomy 10:14]

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[Matthew 5:45]

Whenever we lack food or any of the things we need, our first response should be to seek God, the source of everything. We are not to try to solve the problem independently, using our limited human wisdom and capabilities. We are first to seek God and not the other things we need. It is vital to keep that in mind as we pray to God for food. We should not be consumed with our concerns regarding our lack of food. That is how we pray to God for food and other things we need.

What does the Bible say about being in lack?

Whenever we find ourselves lacking, we ask God, Who is our heavenly Father. The Bible says that those who ask will receive, and those who seek will find. That is why praying to God and coming before Him to ask for the food we need takes humility because it means that we depend on God and not on our own. We sometimes do not have things because we do not ask for them. Just because God is omniscient and knows what we need before we pray, that does not mean we should not pray and ask God for provision. God has instituted prayer to enable us to ask and receive. That does not mean God is our private genie, only that we are to humble ourselves and ask.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

[Matthew 7:7]

Those who are in Christ and have a relationship with God approach God differently than those who are not in Christ. The prayers of those not in Christ do not reach God at all. We who are in Christ have peace with God through faith in Him. The dividing wall of hostility has been broken, and we have received adoptions as God’s children. We can freely approach God’s throne of grace and pray for grace and mercy regarding our provision.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

[Romans 8:15]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

[Hebrews 4:16]

Christ teaches us that we are not to be anxious regarding our needs, such as food and clothes. We are not to worry about them because God is the One Who takes care of us and our needs as we seek His kingdom. Seeking God’s kingdom here means living in obedience to God, preaching the Gospel, and pursuing other things of God’s kingdom. God will care for our needs as we take care of those things. That is why whenever we find ourselves lacking in food, we are not to chase after it. Instead, we will continually seek God’s kingdom because we know that God will take care of our needs. Jesus taught us that God values us. The birds do not sow, reap, or gather a harvest into barns, yet God feeds them. How much more God will care for us, who are more valuable to Him than the birds. Instead, we are to seek God’s kingdom. We can wholly seek God without any worry regarding our needs because we know that He is faithful to provide, and we can trust Him. We are to have faith in God, knowing that He takes care of our needs as we seek His kingdom.

That does not mean that we should not work and only seek God’s kingdom alone. If you are a parent or a working professional, you should still work because that is how God provides the food that you need. However, what you should seek first and prioritize over everything else is the kingdom of God. Your work and needs only come after seeking God’s kingdom since God will take care of all else. That is what differentiates Christians from non-Christians. Christians do not seek after the things they need, but rather, they seek after God and His kingdom, knowing that God knows their needs and won’t forsake them.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

[Matthew 6:25-34]

Diligence is also a factor. As mentioned a while ago, seeking God’s kingdom does not mean one neglects to earn income to buy the things that he or she needs. We can never expect any provision if we don’t work. Work is one of God’s primary sovereignly-instituted means to provide for us. The book of Proverbs has repeatedly shown the difference between one who prospers and one who is poor. The difference is that the one who prospers is diligent and generous, and the poor one is lazy.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

[Proverbs 10:4]

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

[Proverbs 13:4]

It is not just about praying to ask God for provision but also asking God for grace to help us be diligent in work and, if one does not have employment, even find work itself. We are also to pray for God to help us and give us the grace to exercise self-control in doing productive things instead of succumbing to the temptation to be idle.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

[Proverbs 6:6-8]

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

[Proverbs 25:28]

It is also essential to be reminded that our contentment is in Christ. What satisfies us the most is Christ. He is our greatest treasure. Indeed, God supplies us with our needs, but sometimes, God’s needs for us are not what we expect. Just because you prayed for $200 ice cream with gold flakes does not mean God will grant that to you. Even if we have just ordinary ice cream, we should be content with it and grateful to God for what He has provided us. It is better to have ordinary ice cream and a grateful heart toward God, knowing that our contentment and identity are not based on what we have but on Christ. Whatever God provided for us, we know that it is good for us because God only gives good gifts to His children. God may have provided an ordinary car for you instead of an expensive motorcycle; you don’t know that, in the future, you would have been so fascinated with your bike it might have led to an accident due to speeding. 

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

[Philippians 4:11-12]

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 4:19]

How do I pray for food?

As you pray and ask God for food or provision, remember the wondrous things that God has done for you. If He were able to provide for you in the past, He could still do it today. If you can’t remember any specific testimony of God’s provision in your life, the fact that you are still alive right now and reading this is evidence of God’s sustenance in your life. You are still alive and breathing because of God’s providence, mercy, and grace in your life. Remember, the character of God is faithful, merciful, gracious, etc. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Providing His Son Jesus is one of His gifts. If God could provide the perfect sacrifice for your sins, how much more will he supply the food you need? You can also read the Bible, where you get to see the wondrous things that God has done, so you remember that providing for your food is nothing for the LORD.

I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

[Psalm 77:11]

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

[Psalm 143:5]

We don’t just remember the wondrous things that God has done for us, but we also remember His character. God is faithful, merciful, and gracious, and His character does not change because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you pray for food, remember that God’s mercies are new every morning and that His steadfast love never ceases.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

[Lamentations 3:22-23]

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

[Psalm 145:8-9]

Another point to keep in mind as we pray for food is that we come before God from a position of humility, knowing that we ultimately depend on Him. That does not mean we don’t do anything. It means that we don’t rely on ourselves and what we do but on God. Prayer is an act of humility before God. We don’t have to be proud and try to solve everything with our human wisdom and limited capabilities, but we come to God in prayer and ask for help.

When you pray and ask God for food, it is also essential to keep in mind that you are talking to your Heavenly Father. While God is the almighty Creator of the universe, He is also your Father. When we pray to Him, we have this intimacy with Him, and we have the confidence to ask Him for the things that we need as we also respect and revere Him. God is a good Father, Who provides and gives good gifts to His children.

Here is how you can pray to God our Heavenly Father for food:

Heavenly Father, You are gracious, merciful, and faithful. Your steadfast love surrounds me, and You hide me under Your wings. I know that You are faithful to provide and that You are the One Who sustains me. I pray for the food that I and my family needs. I pray for the provisions that we need this coming month. Help me to always be diligent in the work/business that I do. I pray that You will cause the work of my hands to grow and be fruitful and that there will be an increase in income/salary. As You have sustained and provided for us in the previous months, I know that You will also sustain and provide for us in the coming months. Thank You because You are the One Who takes care of me and my family’s needs as I seek Your kingdom. Help me always to set my mind on the things above. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Knowing that God is our Father brings great comfort to those in Christ. Like most fathers, we want to provide for our children and ensure their needs are met. How much more with God, Who is our Father? That is why we can trust and rely on Him. If you are not yet in Christ, then you should first understand the Gospel, repent, and believe the finished work of Christ. Only in Christ can you be in a relationship with God.