A Good Prayer for Provision

All of us are always in need of something. We all need food and water to sustain ourselves, money to buy what we require, and shelter to protect us from the weather and environment. However, provision goes beyond our basic needs. If we are going through something difficult, we must have grace and strength. Therefore, we need to ask God to provide for us. That in itself is a provision. Also, as expressed on the cross, we all need and long to be loved completely, which God can ultimately provide. In fact, God is the only One who can provide us with the love that completes us. When we pray for provision, we can pray for any need, not just our basic human needs, like food, shelter, etc.

Heavenly Father, I thank You. You are the God who faithfully provides for my needs. You know all of my needs more than me. I know that I shall lack no good thing because You are my Father, who takes good care of me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What Does the Bible Say About Provision?

In order to understand what the Bible says about provision, we should first see what it says about the “provider,” who is our God. In Genesis 22:14, Abraham called the place where God provided a ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “the LORD provides” or “the LORD sees.”

The account in Genesis 22, where God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his son, foreshadows Christ’s work on the cross. In other words, it depicts the Gospel. We have sinned against a holy God (Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.). Because of that, we have to pay the penalty of our sin, which is death (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.). But because God is loving and gracious, He does not want us to die eternally. However, he cannot let us go unpunished, for He is just, righteous, and holy. So, the solution for that is providing a sacrifice, someone who is without blemish and qualified to pay for the sins of mankind and die in our place. That sacrifice is Christ Himself. Only He can die for our sins and resurrect from the dead because He is the only one who can live a sinless life. That is why anyone who believes in the finished work of Christ and repents shall be saved (Ephesians 2:1-9).

The Gospel is the greatest depiction of God providing us with our ultimate needs and seeing what we need. If God could see and provide for our greatest need regarding our problem of sin and eternal death, how much more are our needs in life? We are talking about material needs and needs regarding our Christian walk, emotional and mental well-being, ministry, and every aspect of our lives. If we need grace and strength to live upright and holy lives, we can rest assured that God is faithful to provide them when we ask Him. At times, He provides Himself. If we need comfort, we can be confident that we can receive comfort from God through His Word. No matter what needs there may be, we know that God is faithful to provide.

Lamentations 3:22-23 states that God’s love is steadfast, and His mercies are new every morning. It is so because He is faithful. Also, His faithfulness isn’t just some ordinary kind of faithfulness. It is so great that Psalm 36:5 describes it as one that extends to the clouds. God has been and is always faithful. He has proven Himself to be One. Because of that, we can trust Him to provide whatever we need according to His wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 9:10). He does not forsake those who trust them, and they shall lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.).

How Do We Pray a Good Prayer About Provision?

In Philippians 4:6-7, it is written that we are to present to God our prayer requests, and His peace, which transcends all understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds. Surely, those prayer requests are our needs, whatever those may be. At times, we may also feel worried because of our needs. For example, let’s say you have some expenses and are currently low in finances. Perhaps you are about to minister and don’t feel you have what it takes. In those cases, 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us to humble ourselves and give God our care. Hebrews 4:16 also tells us to come before God’s throne of grace and ask Him for the grace and mercy we need.

In other words, we pray to God to provide whatever we need by coming before Him and asking Him. You can also be honest with God about your needs and talk to Him about your situation, why you need it, your concerns, etc. Remember that you are not asking a genie but God, your heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, I am currently concerned about my broken computer. I need a new one so that I can continue doing my work. I pray for the finances I need or at least a new laptop with which I can continue to do my work. I pray for one with features that will help me. I also have difficulty doing ministry as I lead my Bible study. I ask You for the grace and wisdom that I need to preach Your Word in a manner that feeds the souls of my members. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As we pray and ask God for our perceived needs, we must also understand that God knows better than us. Some prayers don’t get the answers we want because God has something better for us. God is our good Father who only wants to give us good gifts (James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.). We can bank on that. God’s wisdom and knowledge are infinite, while ours is finite (Romans 11:33-34). That is why we are to trust in the LORD and not lean in our understanding, for His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are higher than ours (Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 55:8-9). However, we know that God can be trusted, that He is faithful, and that He is good (Deuteronomy 32:4).