The first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer deal with God, the last three with us. The transition between them is jarring. From the heights of God’s name, kingdom, and will, we descend to the depths of our need for bread, forgiveness, and protection. The request for bread seems especially out of place. Why did Jesus teach us to mix such an earthly concern with otherwise heavenly requests?

For two reasons: First, God cares about our bodies as well as our souls. He created them, is saving them, and expects us to honor him with them. So, asking God to meet our physical needs is an inherently spiritual activity, given who we are and who we ought to be.

According to Genesis 1:26–31, God created us in his image, blessed us, provided for us, and pronounced our creation “very good.” Genesis emphasizes the goodness of the human body through a commandment, “Be fruitful and multiply,” and through a gift, “I give you every seed-bearing plant…and every tree that has fruit…. They will be yours for food.” The former demonstrates God’s concern for our sexual needs—that is, marital companionship and childbearing, while the latter demonstrates God’s concern for our physical health. Asking God for daily bread reminds us that we are creatures who live under his blessing.

God created our bodies; he is saving them as well. Christians do not hope that their souls will spend eternity with God in heaven. We look forward to the resurrection of our bodies and eternal life with God in “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1–4). According to Romans 8:21, “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” What is that freedom? Resurrection from the dead: “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and will be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52).

Because God created and is saving our bodies, he expects us to honor him with them. Notice what Paul says about our bodies in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Our bodies are temples of the Spirit; so, treating them well and praying for their needs are spiritual things to do.

A second reason prayer mixes earthly concerns with heavenly requests is the connection between a happy body and a healthy soul. In Matthew 6:25–34, anxiety about our physical needs demonstrates a lack of trust in God. Jesus calls people who worry about stuff—food, drink, and clothing particularly—people of “little faith.” When we ask God to meet our physical needs, we demonstrate our belief that he cares and will provide for us.

God cares for our bodies. Therefore, let us boldly ask him to meet our physical needs!