Praying before meals?

[abigya]

What do you think about saying a Prayer before eating?


I know of no single scripture which teaches- "thou shall pray over every meal"

However, there are many examples of Jesus giving thanks for food before it was eaten. Matthew 14:19; John 6:11; Luke 22:17-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 also can be found Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray...... “give us this day our daily bread”. (Matthew 6:11)

 

[jiggyfly]

You are right Abigya, I know many think that I am sacrilegious because I don't pray over my food but simply say "thanks" to Father.

 

[Coconut]

I dont pray over my food either. I believe thankfulness for Gods provision, and trust in His supply is a matter of the heart, not a formality.

 

[Ncdataman]

I do pray over meals myself, I think mostly because I have always used it as a chance for the kids to pray in front of the family. I always wanted them to look at prayer as important as eating, spirtual food before reg food.

NC

 

[Chad]

I don't pray over meals either. GOD knows I am thankful in my heart and a grateful man.

I still agree with NCD about the children learning. Good thinking!

 

[stephen]

I do 'give thanks' before I eat meals. And should the house/table be full I give more thanks and praise. My dear wife having caught her eye on such occasions says 'shut up'......but why?

My family need to know that Jesus has met my need bountifully throughout life. Not as a result of this/that/ or the other/ as they/family see it. Indeed not. But because I trust in God. I am not ashamed to magnify Jesus in any event. Does it not say......'In everything.......give thanks' + the scriptures mentioned

 

[Fellowservant]

I myself say a prayer in my mind before i eat, when i remember it that is. At Christmas a use a verbal prayer, but its Coconut who reminds me an hour before i do it lol. Thanks to God for all things is to be commended I usually thank God for all things when im in prayer, food included...

God bless you sister...

 

[rizen1]

I always pray before I eat any meal, especially if I'm eating at someone's house or at a restaurant.

I grew up among muslims and hindu's...so I know a lot about people praying over the food they prepare. Foods offered up to their gods.

I pray before driving or going on long trips, for safety ...so I see praying before meals the same way, safety measure also a time to show gratitude because so many go without food in this world...taking 2mins to say thanks before each meal and snack is not enough.

The public schools in my birth country besides morning and evening prayer, we had to say the famous " grace before meals " prayer.

I guess it's something instilled in me from home and school.

 

[Dreamer]

We pray before supper at our house. Sometimes we forget at other meals, because we all sit down at different times. We always pray when eating out. I think it is a wonderful witness and also a wonderful way of saying thanks to our Lord and that we're not ashamed of Him!

 

[abigya]

Not to disagree with people who thank the Lord for his provision. The problem is it is so unscriptural for people to take it as some sort of rules and regulation to pray for every meal. Me used to feel I am not doing well Spiritualy in case I forget to pray untill I come to understanding, I do know many feeling the same as me.

Brother Jiggy me too just say thanks Lord.

 

[stephen]

Not to disagree with people who thank the Lord for his provision. The problem is it is so unscriptural for people to take it as some sort of rules and regulation to pray for every meal. Me used to feel I am not doing well Spiritualy in case I forget to pray untill I come to understanding, I do know many feeling the same as me.

Brother Jiggy me too just say thanks Lord.

Amen sister.......Do whatever you wish etc. As you say we do not follow a book of rules

We follow Jesus...Salvation is of the LOrd. Let us keep as pure as we can....in His sight. We aim to please Him

 

[junglman]

Being a missionary in a remote place, germs, parasites, amoebas and everything else present, I do pray over each meal. My family and I are daily in villages and they are so poor that they have nothing to give and the only way to show their gratitude to us for bringing them the Gospel is food. We eat whatever is put before us, no matter what. I have eaten rotten pork because they have no refrigerators are anything to preserve it. All my family, kids included, so we pray for our food, for if don't eat it, it will cause offense and they will be closed to the Gospel. We have been down here for 7 yrs and have not gotten sick(I did once, but that is it). I agree with the majority, I give thanks, but also for God to sanctify it. The only Scripture I use this is 1 Timothy 4:3-5.1Ti 4:3 {men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.. Be blessed Junglman

 

[stephen]

Being a missionary in a remote place, germs, parasites, amoebas and everything else present, I do pray over each meal. My family and I are daily in villages and they are so poor that they have nothing to give and the only way to show their gratitude to us for bringing them the Gospel is food. We eat whatever is put before us, no matter what. I have eaten rotten pork because they have no refrigerators are anything to preserve it. All my family, kids included, so we pray for our food, for if don't eat it, it will cause offense and they will be closed to the Gospel. We have been down here for 7 yrs and have not gotten sick(I did once, but that is it). I agree with the majority, I give thanks, but also for God to sanctify it. The only Scripture I use this is 1 Timothy 4:3-5.1Ti 4:3 {men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.1Ti 4:4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;1Ti 4:5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.. Be blessed Junglman

Reading your post brother reminded me of my youth, when as a boy I hung on to every word as Christian Missionaries returning home on furlough told how they gave thanks over their food.

This proved benificial for unknown to them at times....the natives were trying to poison them.........and they could not understand why they were not in some bodily agony

"They shall take up.....and if they eat/drink any deady thing it shall not hurt them"....Hallelujah

 

[ushalk]

Not to disagree with people who thank the Lord for his provision. The problem is it is so unscriptural for people to take it as some sort of rules and regulation to pray for every meal. Me used to feel I am not doing well Spiritualy in case I forget to pray untill I come to understanding, I do know many feeling the same as me.

Brother Jiggy me too just say thanks Lord.

you are right abigya. our worship is between us and god. i enjoy praying over my meals mainly because i love to thank god that he feeds me and i know what it is like to be hungary and with out. i guess i really appreciate that i have food to eat. but i do not think that it should be placed out there as we are going to hell if we dont.

there seems to be a huge list of rules and regulations for what man has made what salvation is rather than what it truly is. i also think it is dangerous for any of us to get into any regulation,rules or condemnations because of what we see or do not see.

i think 1 point that clearly comes to mind was made by jesus. when he stated that those that are forgiven more will love the master more. this is very true and i see it a lot. some people are much more passionate for christ in christ and with christ than others. it does not mean that they are holier or better christians or anything else like that. but the people that are like that have been forgiven for so much and they realize that they are not worthy of it that they just cant help but to be like that. they know that christ eeally did it all for them and that god is merciful and graceful beyond what the human mind can fathum.