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Do you pray before your meal?

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Dave Slayer

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Do you pray before eating your meal? I do. :yes

But does the Bible say we have to? Because I know some don't pray before meal.
 
My family doesn't but we really should.

My designated prayer times are in the evening and in the morning, or whenever I want to have a word with God. :pray

There isn't anything wrong with more prayer though!
 
My family does! Sometimes we take turns (like a different person pray a night) or my Uncle will say a prayer. Most of the time we say,: God is great, God is good, we thank him for our food. In Jesus name we pray, amen." It's kinda repetitive but if you say it with meaning, I don't think it matters.
 
There is nothing that specifically says that we should pray for our food in the Bible, but if you look at the times that Jesus ate or fed people, he blessed it. We always prayed for our food in my family growing up, but usually didn't hold hands unless it was a big family gathering. Timothy and I always pray for our food together and hold hands :)
 
Our family does, but usually only for dinner as that's the only time (mostly) that we're together as a family for a meal, unless it's holidays.

I think it's important, and Jesus does it in the Bible. It's important to thank our heavenly Father for providing us with what we need.
 
Thankfulness for the little provisions help me remember that the Lord provides everything for me... He is the BEST provider too!

It can be difficult sometimes to remember when you are alone ~ nobody there to remind you. :shrug

I am convicted... Lord help me to be thankful for my daily meals... :oops
I do pray for my food in the word each time I eat it. :biggrin

bonnie
 
This thread reminded me of a part in Matthew 6:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


So God will provide everything we need - so don't worry about it. But be thankfull when He does provide. :)
 
I'm sharing this just as an anecdote, not indicating that it's the way others should be.

In our house prayer before meals became a barometer of my husband's spiritual growth.

When we first married, I was used to praying before meals, but he wasn't so we didn't, but I spoke a silent prayer. After a while, I got out of the habit of even that silent prayer, although that wasn't my only prayer time.

Then, when we got our children, we started praying before meals, but Steve had me pray, because I was "better" at it. As the children grew, our prayer before dinner became a time to learn prayers like table graces and the Lord's prayer.

As time went by, Steve did start to lead us in some simple prayers, but if it were Thanksgiving or if we had any company, he would still have me do it.

Then his prayers before our meal became more than just the simple table grace, but much more a prayer from the heart.

Now, whenever we sit down together, Steve prays for his family, whatever is going on here and that the Lord would continue to bless us. Sometimes, I get such a lump in my throat, it's hard to eat, but I don't mind!
 
I try to pray over my meal whenever I remember. I don't do it ritualisticly simply because I don't want it to become a ritual. I have become the Official Grace Sayer" during family get-togethers.
 
I find myself praying the same way my grandpa always did: "Lord, thank you for this food and bless it to our bodies." It warms my heart to say grace like my grandpa did, and while I am truly grateful for the food and sincerely asking God to bless it, I am also aware that my children are watching and listening and will likely pray this way too as they grow up and have families of their own.
 
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