“…commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
I Timothy 4:3-5 (NKJV)
“God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen.”
Many of us recognize the words of this simple prayer we learned as a tot. But do we realize how important such a childlike prayer is?
Before eating, “grace” is expected by many. But is this a meaningless tradition, or is it steeped with Biblical truth, applicable for our daily lives?
I found my answer in the truth of the text above. We should, receive our food with faith and thanksgiving, by “saying grace”.
By giving thanks, we also sanctify our food. By asking God’s blessings, He sets our food apart for our good and nourishment.
According to this verse, the food we receive is sanctified by both prayer and the Word of God. I have learned the importance of speaking and praying the Word of God over my life.
Even the time-honored child’s prayer we echoed earlier attests much Scriptural truth. Consider the following:
• Psalm 48:1 – “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” (God is great.)
• Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (God is good.)
• I Timothy 4:4 – “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” (Let us thank Him for our food.)
• Psalm 103:2, 5 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul…who satisfies your mouth with good things.” (By His hands, we all are fed.)
• Matthew 6:11 – “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Give us, Lord, our daily bread.)
Therefore, it seems clear that our prayer of thanksgiving before our meals should include and be based upon the Word of God. In doing so, God blesses our food for us.
Be thankful. Say grace. A childhood prayer is a good place to start. For God is great. God is good. Won’t you thank Him for your food?
Kay K. Mortimer is a freelance writer, Licensed Tax Professional, and bookstore owner who lives in Aiken, SC with her husband. She writes for a local newspaper, as well as nonfiction devotions, meditations, and Bible studies. She is a member of the SC Writers Workshop. Her greatest passion is teaching and sharing the Word of God, helping Christians to grow and be encouraged in the faith.