Built to Serve: God’s Design for the Home

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Part 2 of the series: Built by Grace: God's Design for Family and Faith by Bart Denny Walk into almost any home and you can learn a lot just by looking around. Family photos on the wall. A few diplomas. Maybe a trophy case, a military plaque, or — if you're in certain parts of the country — a deer head mounted above the fireplace. But the walls only tell part of the story. The real story is told by the rhythms of a home: what gets talked about most, what creates stress, what gets sacrificed for, and what gets quietly pushed aside. Every home has a center of gravity. Something is pulling it in a certain direction — whether that home is full or quiet, blended or aging, just starting out or starting over. And it's tempting to assume that if we love the Lord, the spiritual direction of our home will simply take care of itself. It won't. You can believe the right things and still let lesser things set the pace. You can want a Christ-centered hom...
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Give Us This Day — Trusting God with Our Needs

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by Bart Denny

Have you ever noticed how the Lord’s Prayer shifts gears?
It begins with God — Our Father… hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. It’s all about His holiness, His priorities, His will.

But then, without skipping a beat, Jesus invites us to pray something incredibly down-to-earth:

“Give us today our daily bread.” — Matthew 6:11

That’s not just a request for food. It’s an invitation to trust.

1. Trust God Daily — He Knows What You Need

Jesus could have said, “Give us a year’s worth of provisions,” or “Fill my retirement account now.” But He didn’t. He taught us to ask for daily bread.

It’s a reminder of how God fed Israel with manna in the wilderness — just enough for each day, no stockpiling. Why? Because God was teaching them to depend on Him one day at a time.

We like to plan ahead. We want the five-year blueprint. But Jesus says, “Live in the now. Trust Me for today.”

Practical step: Each morning this week, pause before you check your phone and pray, “Lord, I trust You for today’s bread — physically, emotionally, spiritually.”

2. Bring Every Need — God Wants to Hear It

Philippians 4:6 reminds us:

“In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Every situation. Big or small.
God doesn’t have a “minimum height requirement” for prayers. If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

Think about how a child asks their mom for lunch — they don’t apologize or make a formal speech. They just say, “I’m hungry.” That’s how God wants you to come to Him.

Practical step: Start a simple “prayer list” on paper or your phone. Write down one thing each day you’re asking God for — even if it’s as ordinary as patience for a meeting — and see how He answers.

3. Receive God’s Peace — His Presence Is the Provision

Philippians 4:7 promises:

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Peace doesn’t only arrive when the problem is solved. God offers peace in the middle of the problem. It’s like a soldier standing guard at your heart, refusing entry to fear and anxiety.

Practical step: When anxiety rises, stop and pray right away:
“Lord, I give this to You. Guard my heart and mind.” Speak truth from Scripture to yourself and to others.

Your Challenge This Week

Make a “Bread Box” or “Today’s Needs” jar. Each morning, write down one specific need for that day and pray over it. At the end of the week, look back and see how God provided — and where His peace showed up even if the answer wasn’t what you expected.

God’s invitation in “Give us this day our daily bread” is more than a request for food — it’s an open door to trust Him daily, to bring Him everything, and to rest in His peace.

So today, whatever you’re facing — bring it to Him. He already knows. He’s already there. And He will give you what you need for today.

 

About the Author:
Dr. Bart Denny is the lead pastor of Pathway – A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan, and an adjunct instructor in Christian Leadership and Ministry at Grand Canyon University. A retired U.S. Navy officer, Bart is passionate about preaching, church revitalization, and helping people grow in prayer and discipleship.

Watch the full sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzbd9KF-KMY
Learn more about Pathway Church: www.pathwaywes.org

 

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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