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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Christians frequently pray before meals, giving thanks to God for the food we are about to eat. Pre-meal prayers can be a simple "thank-you" to God for the meal or lengthier prayers of thanksgiving...
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John Hodge
Supporter
My response is not so deep as many I find here, which I find to be wonderfully explained and most importantly Biblical. I find that before eating I am reminded by His Spirit that I need to pray not only for my food to be blessed but I need to talk to God and at every opportunity to reinforce my need for Him in every part of my life. It serves as a reminder, not out of ritual, but as an act of continuing obedience to His Word to be constantly in prayer. It helps to build my faith and as I strive to eat regularly I also am reminded to pray regularly. Praise the Lord that He cares about me and seeks my fellowship.
Glenn Harrell
Supporter
Thank you John---How precious your comment. "With my wife's cooking--we pray after the meals. I don't brush my teeth afterwards, I count them!" (Dangerfield) An unthankful child is a child who is disconnected with the fathers heart. (II Timothy 3:1-2) An attitude of gratitude is one of many symptomatic musts for all of God's children. We pray because it is like a knee jerk reaction to the Grace and love he places within our hearts. He treats us better than we deserve.(Titus 3:7) We pray because we know that the source of our blessings is not ourselves. (Psalm 23) We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. We pray because the body is a temple and food is its source of health. "You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." (I Corinthians 5:19-20 We Pray because doing so reminds us that "God's Kingdom isn't about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness." (Romans 14:17) Finally, anything Jesus did is a supreme example for us. (Matthew 26:26-27) "Always use the name of our Lord Jesus to thank God the Father for everything." (Ephesians 5:20) True blessings to you
Leon Penny
Supporter
A prayer before eating serves several purposes: A prayer reminds us that food is not a sure thing, as God's people wandering in the desert found out. It also serves to let God know that we recognize that we are receiving a portion of his bounty as a result of his mercy and not that we deserve any part of his bounty. It makes us think about the reality that everything has been made, not manufactured, is made by The father and was made for us from the beginning. By this we can remain confident, and rest assured that God's love is unconditional and always with us.
Richard Rushin
Supporter
I truly enjoyed the previous responses, and when you employ God's word to substantiate your thought, that's in imitation of Jesus. Giving thanks before a meal is for me, my expression of thankfulness, and gratitude, because some people unfortunately lack sustenance. More than that it is in imitation of our Lord and Savior Jesus, whom we are to imitate to the best of our imperfect ability! For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1Peter2:21) For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:15) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 5:1)
Billy P Eldred
Supporter
My answer is different than others here and only speaks to what I do, not what am suggesting we should do. First of all, I don't always pray before meals. But we usually pray before group meals with others present than my wife and I. I do sometimes pray before our meals, sometimes silently and sometimes out loud. When we have group meals I am usually asked to "bless the food". Instead I try to encourage those present to be thankful for not just this meal but all those present and even blessings we don't know we get. God blesses us in so many ways! I feel the opportunity I am given at that moment is an opportunity to draw any present who might not be saved to be drawn toward God. My prayers are not long but I pray for them to be effective. In other words, I try to plant seeds!
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
Why do we pray before eating meals? Prayers can be as simple as a "thank you" to God for the meal, or as lengthy as prayers of thanksgiving for all His provisions in our lives. In praying before meals, we are following the example of the Lord Jesus, whose prayers on several occasions are our model. Giving thanks before a meal shows our appreciation for what God has provided. It is also a chance to thank God for the food he provides, with an eye toward the spiritual food he provides for us in Jesus Christ. Eph 5:20: ESV: "Giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" I Cor 10:31 ESV: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Psalm 145:15-177 ESV: "The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season. 16 Thou openest thy hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works." No one else can satisfy their needs. God gives them "their food in its season. Jesus also mentioned in Matt 6:11ESV: "Give us today our bread for this day." The Bible reveals that he is a loving God who delights in giving his worshippers what they need. Saying a prayer before a meal is a way of saying thank you to God for making the earth and everything in it – all good things come from God, and it's up to us to use them in the very best and most generous way.
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