Have you ever wondered why Christians pray before eating? This simple routine of praying before a meal isn’t a direct command in scripture, but it is a way we express gratitude and thanksgiving to God. In this blog, we’ll help you answer the questions of “Why do we pray before we eat?” and “How do I pray before I eat?” So, let’s dive in!
Acknowledging God as Provider
As you explore the question of “Why do we pray before meals?”, it’s helpful to remember that God is our provider and He is worthy of praise and thanks for all that He's given us. Because of our modern age, most of us don’t know true hunger, so while it may seem mundane and redundant, thanking God with a prayer before a meal is incredibly powerful.
When you choose to pray before eating, you are intentionally slowing down to thank God for the food on your table. And if you’re wondering how to pray before you eat, it’s simple! Think of it like a time of gratitude or a time of celebration where you choose to be thankful for what you have before you eat.
How to Pray Before You Eat
Praying before meals is really simple: all you need to do is start with a "Thank you". You can choose to thank God for the food He created: the meat, the vegetables, the fruit, and the grains. You can also choose to thank God for the farmer who made the food and thank God for the supermarket that you got your food from. You can even go a step further and thank God for providing the job you have so that you could buy this food in the first place! And, you can be extra intentional to thank God for the person who made the food you’re eating. Moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, and local chefs are something to be very grateful for! They turn simple foods into our favorite meals and are often responsible for the memories associated with them.
Gratitude is one of the most powerful things in the world. Learn more about the power of gratitude in our blog: The Benefits of Gratitude in the Bible
What are the Benefits of Praying Before Meals?
The answer to the question, “Why do we pray before we eat?” can be answered in many ways. Thankfully, we’ve got simple answers about why we pray before eating and we'll even show you some of the awesome benefits of praying before meals are. So, here are the 5 main benefits of praying before you eat:
1. Gratitude & Thankfulness: When you pray before a meal, you automatically become thankful for what you have. You realize what a gift it is to have food on the table!
Discover more about thankfulness in our blog: 21 Bible Verses About Gratitude & Being Intentionally Grateful
2. Forms Humility: Another answer to the question, “Why do we pray before eating?” is that it forms humility in us and helps us to realize our dependence on God. Often in the Bible, the Word of God (and even Jesus Himself!) is referred to as our daily bread or the bread of life. Pre-sliced bread that stays good for weeks on end is a relatively new invention. In the ancient world, bread was made daily. The bread was baked either at home or in an oven that was shared by the community. There were no preservatives or chemicals to make the bread keep longer. Thus, bread was a daily staple and something that showed people their dependence on God, for food and for His presence.
Learn more about the parallels between God, bread, and provision in our blog: What Does the Bible Say About Food & Eating?
3. Gives Honor & Praise to God: Perhaps the best answer to the question, “Why do we pray before we eat?” is because it brings honor and praise to God, who meets our needs. Thanking God for our food also helps us to enjoy what we’re eating more. Just think about a slice of fresh, Italian pizza, for example. God made the wheat that made the flour. God made the tomatoes for the sauce. God also made the cow that made the milk to make the cheese. And God gave a man from Naples the idea for pizza in the late 1800’s. All of these things cause gratitude to rise up in our hearts, and we give honor and praise to God, not only for the food we eat, but also for the cultures He made with their various flavors and traditions!
Related Post: 5 Steps for a More Meaningful Thanksgiving
4. Forms Us to Be More Generous: When you choose to pray before a meal, you cultivate gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise to God, but at the same time, you’re actually forming your heart to be more generous. As you grow in gratitude for the food you have, you grow in compassion for those who are struggling to put food on their table.
Jesus was very clear in His commands for us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to feed those who are hungry, and to take care of the poor. When you make a practice of praying before eating, you become more like Jesus and more compassionate to the hungry.
Want to help the hungry? Visit Feed My Starving Children to learn how you can give and serve those in need.
5. Connection through Community: One of the many blessings that comes from praying before eating is that it fosters connection at the table. You were never meant to walk alone, and you were never meant to eat alone. Family, friendship, and connection are found at the table. When you choose to pray before a meal, you grow in love and compassion for the friendships God has blessed you with.
Learn more about the power of community in our blog: 5 Bible Verses About Community & How to Have a Christian Family
Conclusion
As you can see, praying before a meal starts a domino effect of gratitude, praise, and honor for God! Food is a profound gift from God, and His provision towards us is cause for praise. Wherever you are on your walk with Jesus, praying before meals is a key thing to do to grow in thankfulness and change your perspective from feeling poor to realizing how rich you really are. And, best of all, as you practice praying before eating, you’ll become more like Jesus through generosity and serving the least of these. So, happy praying (and happy eating!) from the Ask About My Faith team.
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