Three Reasons We Pray Before Meals

Three Reasons We Pray Before Meals



At dining room tables and in kitchens across America, families will take a few moments today to pause and pray before devouring the feast before them.

Have you ever wondered why we do this? Or what to say? Whether your family “says grace,” “gives thanks” or “blesses the food,” here are three reasons we pray before meals. 

1. To celebrate who God is  

God is a giver. God is generous. Every time we bow our heads, it’s an opportunity to express gratitude for God’s character. King David, one of the leaders of Israel, gives us a great example of what this looks like. 

God put it on David’s heart to build a temple. To accomplish this task, the nation would need money, supplies, and skilled craftsmen to do the work. David asked everyone to give as they felt led, and the response was overwhelming! To celebrate, King David gathered the whole nation for a massive feast. Before they ate, David stood before the people and prayed:

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:10-11).  

Celebrating God’s greatness is one way we tell Him we love Him.

David starts his blessing by celebrating who God is. God loves hearing us tell Him what a good father He is just like we love it when our kids tell us what good parents we are. Celebrating God’s greatness is one way we tell Him we love Him. It also puts us in our place. When we recall how powerful and majestic God is, we remember how small and dependent on Him we are.

2. To remember who provides for us

God made everything. Whatever we have, God gave us. David understood that God is our provider, so before digging into the feast, he wanted to make sure Israel understood this as well:

“Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all… who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (1 Chronicles 29:12-14).

This feast was not about celebrating Israel’s wealth, but God’s generosity. The same is true for us. The turkeys we carve are gifts from God. The homes eat in are gifts from God. He alone deserves the credit for it all, and when we understand that, it only feels natural to give Him thanks.

Taking a day to recognize how blessed we are is a good thing, but living each day with gratitude is a God thing. 

3. To redirect our hearts

After recognizing that God is great and He gives everything, David makes one ask: God, please don’t ever let us forget either one of those truths.

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you” (1 Chronicles 29:17-18).

Taking a day to recognize how blessed we are is a good thing, but living each day with gratitude is a God thing. That’s what David wanted for his people, and that’s what God wants for us. How would it change our attitude to life if we prayed with the same earnestness we have on Thanksgiving 365 days a year?


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The Weight Of The Word: How A Message Can Change Your Life

Published: August 05, 2024

Have you ever had a moment when words you've heard countless times suddenly take on new meaning? When a familiar song, story, or message unexpectedly pierces your heart and transforms your perspective? This phenomenon – the sudden impact of words we thought we knew – reveals a profound truth about the power of language and the nature of spiritual awakening. Consider the classic Broadway musical "South Pacific." Hidden within its catchy tunes and romantic plot is a powerful anti-racist message, encapsulated in the song "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught." The lyrics explain that hatred and prejudice are not innate but learned: "You've got to be taught Before it's too late Before you are six or seven or eight To hate all the people your relatives hate You've got to be carefully taught" For many who grew up with this music, these words planted seeds of equality and acceptance long before they fully understood the concept of racism. The song's message, though wrapped in entertainment, carried real weight – shaping worldviews and challenging societal norms. But how does this relate to our spiritual lives? Just as we can hear a song many times before its message truly resonates, we often encounter spiritual truths repeatedly before they fundamentally change us. This is the essence of what we might call "the weight of the word" – the idea that words, especially those conveying divine truths, have a gravity and power that can profoundly impact our lives when we're finally ready to receive them. Take, for example, the story of Neil Diamond's song "Morningside" from his album "Hot August Night." The song tells of an old man who dies alone, leaving behind a handcrafted table as a gift for his children. Tragically, none of his children claim this labor of love, and the words he carved become his epitaph: "For my children." For many listeners, this poignant tale might simply be a sad song. But for others, at the right moment, it becomes a heart-wrenching allegory for the way we often overlook or reject the most precious gifts in our lives – including the spiritual truths offered to us. This brings us to the core of our reflection: How often do we hear the message of faith without truly listening? How many times have we sat through sermons, read scriptures, or encountered spiritual wisdom without allowing it to penetrate our hearts and change our lives? The Gospels provide a striking parallel. Jesus often found himself surrounded by crowds eager to see miracles or receive physical blessings. They followed him from town to town, amazed by his teachings and impressed by his actions. Yet how many truly understood and embraced the deeper spiritual truths he was offering? In John 6:26, Jesus addresses this directly, saying, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." The people were focused on the immediate, tangible benefits of following Jesus rather than the transformative spiritual message he was sharing. This challenge – to move beyond surface-level engagement with spiritual truths – is one we all face. We might attend religious services regularly, participate in rituals, or even enjoy the community aspects of faith. But are we truly open to the weight of the word? Are we allowing the message of divine love and salvation to penetrate our hearts and change our lives? The journey from hearing to truly listening, from knowing about faith to experiencing it, is often gradual. Like a hammer striking a rock repeatedly before it finally cracks, our hearts may need multiple encounters with truth before we're ready to receive it fully. This is why consistent exposure to spiritual teachings is so important – we never know when that pivotal moment of understanding will come. For some, this moment of spiritual awakening comes unexpectedly. Imagine sitting in a familiar place of worship, hearing words you've heard countless times before, when suddenly – as if scales have fallen from your eyes – you see the truth with new clarity. The love of God, the sacrifice of Christ, the offer of salvation – concepts you've known intellectually suddenly become viscerally real. This experience of spiritual awakening reminds us that faith is not just about intellectual assent to certain truths. It's about a transformative encounter with divine love that changes how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. It's about realizing that the creator of the universe offers us a love far greater and more profound than even the deepest human affection we've experienced. But here's the crucial point: while spiritual leaders and teachers play an important role in sharing these truths, the real power lies in how we, as individuals, internalize and share these messages in our daily lives. When a friend, family member, or neighbor shares how a particular scripture touched their heart or how they experienced God's love in a difficult situation, it often resonates more deeply than a formal sermon. This is the beautiful paradox of spiritual truth – it's both universally applicable and intensely personal. The same message that has been preached for centuries can suddenly become new and transformative when received with an open heart. And when we experience this transformation, we're called to share it with others, not through grand gestures or eloquent speeches, but through authentic living and genuine relationships. As we reflect on the weight of the word in our own lives, let's challenge ourselves to approach familiar spiritual truths with fresh eyes and open hearts. Let's be willing to let go of our preconceptions and truly listen for the voice of divine love speaking to us through scripture, through others, and through the quiet moments of our lives. Remember, the message of faith – that we are loved beyond measure by a God who offers us salvation and purpose – is not just a set of ideas to be intellectually understood. It's a transformative truth that, when fully embraced, has the power to change everything. May we all experience moments where the familiar suddenly becomes profound, where the words we've heard a thousand times suddenly take on new life, and where the weight of divine truth settles deeply into our hearts, changing us forever.

Improving Our Welcome: Freshly Painted Parking Lot

Published: September 03, 2024

We are excited to share that our church has taken a significant step to improve hospitality, welcome, and safety by cleaning and repainting the lines in our parking lot. The difference is remarkable, and it’s something we can all be proud of when welcoming people to our church.One of the key updates includes clearly marked handicapped parking spots, making it easier for those with mobility challenges to access our building. We’ve also refreshed the directional arrows to ensure a smooth one-way flow through the lot, and clearly marked the "Do Not Enter" signs at the exit to enhance safety for everyone.Take a look at the pictures below to see the improvements:Handicapped Spots with Improved VisibilityOne-way Direction Arrows for Safety"Do Not Enter" at the Exit for Improved SafetyThis project was funded by the church’s reserve funds, but if you’d like to contribute to help defray the cost, your one-time donation would be greatly appreciated. You can make a donation at [link].Thank you for helping us make our church a more welcoming and safer place for all!
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