Mealtime prayers often become a habitual part of our day, a brief moment of gratitude before we dig into our food. While these prayers are meaningful, they can sometimes become routine, losing the depth and richness they could embody. What if we viewed each meal as an opportunity to elevate our prayers, transforming a simple act of thanksgiving into a moment of awe and worship?
1
The Simple Power of a Childhood Prayer
For many families, mealtime prayers begin with a simple phrase, one that’s been passed down through generations: “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for this food.” This prayer, often taught to children, captures two profound truths about God—His greatness and His goodness.
As children, we may not fully grasp the weight of these words, but they plant seeds of understanding. God’s greatness encompasses His sovereignty, omnipotence, and omniscience—He is beyond our wildest imaginations. His goodness is equally infinite—He is sinless, just, and always acts in love toward those who are His. These simple truths are foundational, but as we grow in faith, our understanding deepens, and our prayers can expand to reflect that growth.
1
Moving Beyond the Basics
While “God is great, God is good” is a beautiful and powerful declaration, it can start to feel repetitive and simplistic if we don’t take the time to unpack its meaning. Without adding more specific examples and personal reflections, our prayers risk becoming formulaic, losing the richness and depth they could have.
That’s why my parents often varied their mealtime prayers, using language that made God’s greatness and goodness more tangible. They would draw from the beauty of creation, the blessings in our lives, and the truths found in Scripture to paint a fuller picture of who God is. This practice taught us to see God’s hand in every aspect of our lives, reminding us that He is actively involved in the world around us.
1
Four Ways to Pray Big at Mealtime
Eating is something we do every day, often multiple times, and it can easily become a routine that we take for granted. Yet, each meal is a testament to God’s provision and care. Psalm 104 provides a model for how to connect our daily meals with the grandeur of God’s creation and His ongoing work in the world.
1. Compare God to the Grandest Aspects of Creation
When we pray, we can magnify God by comparing Him to the most immense and powerful elements of creation. The psalmist writes, “God, you stretched out the heavens like a tent” (Psalm 104:2). He speaks of mountains, oceans, and forests—elements of nature that inspire awe. Including such imagery in our prayers helps us and our families grasp just how great God is.
Consider choosing one grand aspect of creation—such as volcanoes, galaxies, or vast oceans—and use it to illustrate God’s power in your prayers. This practice can revitalize our mealtime prayers, making the greatness of God more real to us. It also serves as a reminder that the God who created the mountains is the same God who provides our daily bread.
12
2. Acknowledge God’s Care for the Smallest Creatures
God’s care extends beyond the grand and majestic to include even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures. The psalmist notes how God provides water for every animal, builds homes for the birds, and causes grass to grow for the livestock (Psalm 104:10-14). Reflecting on these details in our prayers reminds us of God’s meticulous care for all creation.
Before your next meal, consider the journey of the food on your plate. Think about the seeds that were planted, the rain that fell, the sun that shone, and the hands that harvested. Each step is a testimony to God’s provision. By acknowledging these small miracles, we cultivate gratitude and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in the details of our lives.
12
3. Marvel at the Rhythms of Life
The rhythms of life—the rising and setting of the sun, the changing of the seasons—are often overlooked. Yet, these are some of the most profound examples of God’s sovereignty and creativity. The psalmist marvels, “You made the moon to mark our seasons; the sun knows when to set” (Psalm 104:19).
In our prayers, we can pause to appreciate these rhythms, recognizing that each day is a gift. The earth’s perfect positioning in space, its rotation, and its orbit are all under God’s control. When we pray with this awareness, we not only thank God for the food before us but also for the countless ways He sustains life on this planet.
1
4. Eat and Drink to the Glory of God
The Apostle Paul reminds us that everything we do, including eating and drinking, should be done to the glory of God. He writes, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Genuine worship sounds like this: “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord” (Psalm 104:33–34). As we praise God for forming mountains, feeding animals, and orchestrating the universe, we should also spend time admiring Jesus. The mountains were made through Him (John 1:3). Every ounce of food points to Him, as the true bread of life (John 6:35). Our galaxy may revolve around the sun, but all of history and the entire universe revolve around Jesus (Ephesians 1:10; Hebrews 1:2–3). He is our only way to God, our only source of truth, and our only hope for real life and lasting joy (John 14:6; Psalm 16:11).
1
Transforming Mealtime into Worship
Mealtime can be more than just a moment to say a quick prayer and satisfy our hunger. It can be a daily opportunity to reflect on God’s greatness, to see His hand in the ordinary, and to worship Him with our whole hearts. By expanding our prayers to include reflections on God’s creation, provision, and the rhythms of life, we turn each meal into an act of worship.
Perhaps you don’t often eat together as a family, or the busyness of life has made mealtime prayers feel like an afterthought. Psalm 104 offers a fresh reason to pause and gather around the table with a renewed sense of purpose. Every time we come together for a meal, we have the chance to rehearse the most important truths of our faith, to marvel at the God who is both good and great, and to deepen our relationship with Him.
12
.jfif)
