Jesus, empower me to help my friend see that sometimes they end up doing things they are not proud of, as they try to get their daily needs met. Let me show them that there are times when they spend every waking moment trying to make sure all their needs are fulfilled. Their life can become a rat race as they labor to make enough money to pay the bills. Help me show them that all the people who haven’t allowed God to be their heavenly Father are responsible for all their own needs. If they are going to get anything, it is going to have to come through their own efforts.

Jesus, let me help my friend think about the fact that there usually aren’t enough hours in a day for them to reach their goals. Help me show them that even those who are rich are driven by deep desires for more. They can’t hoard enough money to make them happy; and they can’t spend enough money to satisfy the craving in their heart. Help them see that without You in their life, there is an emptiness that nothing else can fill.

Jesus, help me ask my friend: “What if you connected to God’s knowledge, foreknowledge of the future, understanding, wisdom and power? What if you allowed Him to help you be at the right place, at the right time, doing and saying the right things, to the right people, for the right reasons?” Help me show them that when they put their trust in God for helping them all during their day, their daily needs get met with God-sized miracles and power.

Jesus, help me show my friend that different people pursue joy and happiness in different ways; but, everyone wants to be happy. Help me teach them that if they choose to pray this portion of this prayer, they will be asking God to start directing them into His system for getting their daily needs met. If they are willing to give Him permission, He will place joy and happiness in them so they will be happy no matter what is going on in their life and the world around them. Help me make it clear to them that as God meets their daily needs in a wonderful way, it won’t make them happy; they will ALREADY be filled with joy and happiness.

Jesus, help me teach them that God makes joy and happiness and getting their daily needs met to be two separate issues. He empowers them to start their day with joy and happiness. This enables them to approach their day with joy and happiness already in place. Help me show them that they will have what everyone is seeking without having to pursue it. From that moment on they will be getting their needs met; and, it won’t be because they are trying to get them met so they can be happy. God will help them get their needs met and will bless and prosper them.

Jesus, let me help my friend see that they will already be filled with joy and happiness independent of all those daily blessings. Help me find out whether or not they are willing to start letting God influence them as to which job they will take, what positions they will accept, and how much time they will spend working. Then, if they are ready, help me lead them into praying these words: “Give me today my daily bread,” and then pray: “Give us today our daily bread.”