Troublesome Topic: What about Prayer before Meals?

I don’t know about you, but I have gotten used to inserting a request or two into my prayer of thanks before a meal. Once that habit was firmly established in me, it seemed normal and right. Then I heard that the Jews repeat a simple expression of thanks at each meal. They always say, “Blessed are you, Oh Lord, our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth” (or, if it was a blessing over a cup of wine, they ended, “who makes the fruit of the vine”). That seemed strange to me. I wondered why they said the same thing every time. Now I see wisdom in the way they did it. They expressed their thanks, and recognized God’s sovereignty at the same time. That was all. No requests for “favors.”

I am trying to make changes in this area too. I am trying to just give thanks for the food and stop adding in requests for favors.

The next lesson is: What about the Prayer of Jabez?