WLC 193: What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

Answer: In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread1), acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them2; and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us3, nor we to merit4, or by our own industry to procure them5; but prone to desire6, get7, and use them unlawfully8: we pray for ourselves and others, that both they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them9; and have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them10, and contentment in them11; and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support and comfort12.

  1. Matthew 6:11
  2. Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:20-22; Jeremiah 5:25; Deuteronomy 28:15-68
  3. Deuteronomy 8:3
  4. Genesis 32:10
  5. Deuteronomy 8:17-18
  6. Jeremiah 6:13; Mark 7:21-22
  7. Hosea 12:7
  8. James 4:3
  9. Genesis 43:12-14; Genesis 28:20; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thess 3:11-12; Phil 4:6
  10. 1 Timothy 4:3-5
  11. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
  12. Proverbs 30:8-9

For further study see:

  1. WSC 104: What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

 

 

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