In our fast-paced world, it’s very easy to forget the importance of gratitude for all that we possess and all that we are. However, it is essential to pause and reflect on the multitude of reasons we have to be thankful. Among these reasons, the simple fact of having food to eat is a profound one. In this post, I’d like to talk about eight Bible verses that serve as reminders to express be grateful and offer prayers before partaking in a meal.
The act of blessing food before consumption is a timeless tradition that transcends cultural boundaries. People from all corners of the globe recognize the significance of “saying grace” over their meals. This act is not merely a formality; it is a recognition of God as the ultimate provider and bestower of all blessings, including food and the sustenance we receive through food. It’s a practice that helps cultivate a positive and appreciative attitude not only towards our meals but also towards life as a whole.
Each one of these Bible verses is a reminder of the importance of gratitude towards food and eating.
- Jesus gave thanks when He provided bread for the multitude
- Matthew 14:19 (NIV) “And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”
- Jesus gave thanks before the Last Supper
- Luke 22:17-19 (NIV) “After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
- God our Father is the giver of all good gifts including food!
- James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
- Our lives are lived for the Lord and that includes everything we do
- Romans 14:6-8 (NLT) Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
- Food should be received with gratitude
- 1 Timothy 4:4-5 (GNT) Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks, because the word of God and the prayer make it acceptable to God.
- God commands the earth to yield food for us to eat. Blessed be God!
- Psalm 67:6 “The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.”
- God gives us good land for the food to be produced. Blessed be God!
- Deuteronomy 8:10 (ESV) And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
- God has given us everything.
- Genesis 9:3 (ESV) Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
So, as we sit down to enjoy a meal, let us not forget to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the food on our plates. These verses remind us that every bite we take is a gift from the Creator, a reason to be grateful not just for our sustenance but for the abundance of blessings in our lives. May the practice of gratitude continue to be in our lives, not only towards our meals but towards life as a whole. Amen!
Love,
Ayobambo