Jesus here teaches His disciples to ask their heavenly Father for all their material needs. Notice that: - We are told to pray for what we need. That does not mean that we do not plan, or work, for the necessities of life. But we must not worry about them (as we so often do!). Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or What shall we wear?’… But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:32-33). Nor must we think that our efforts will automatically bring results. “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17). - We are told to pray for “our needs, not our greeds” (D.A. Carson). Necessities, not luxuries. Bread, not champagne and caviar. God does not promise to provide the biggest house, newest car, most fashionable clothes, or most expensive vacations. “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9). - We are to ask for daily provision. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we must look for no more than what we require each day. If we ask with this attitude, we can be sure that our Father, “who knows the things [we] have need of before [we] ask Him,” will, like any good father, give us every “good gift” (Matthew 7:11).