We Are Made For Union With God (Our Father #3)

We Are Made For Union With God (Our Father #3) | Dr. Larry Baucom, Dr. Troy Doucet | May 11, 2025

In this, the third dialogue between Dr. Larry Baucom and Dr. Troy Doucet, three key insights emerge as part of their “Our Father” series on The Lord’s Prayer—focusing this week on the phrase: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

1. This part of the prayer is all about radical dependency.

The Pastors unpack the simple yet profound line, “Give us this day our daily bread,” as a call to live in radical dependence on God. While many associate dependence with weakness or even dysfunction (like codependency or addiction), Jesus redefines it as a healthy, daily reliance on God. Using the biblical example of the Israelites receiving manna in the wilderness, they remind us that God provided exactly what was needed—no more, no less, and always daily. This teaches that life with God isn’t about stockpiling or self-sufficiency, but about moment-by-moment trust.

Yet, in a culture that idolizes independence, this can be hard to accept. With fridges full and meals never far away, many of us feel little urgency to ask for bread, let alone recognize our deeper spiritual and emotional needs. But Jesus insists that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). The prayer is not just about bread, but about acknowledging that every breath and provision comes from God.

2. We are made for union with God, and life is better when we live in connection with him.

The second point emphasizes that humans were made to run on God—He is the needed fuel for our souls. Drawing from C.S. Lewis, the Pastors note that just as a car is built to run on gasoline, we are built to run on God. Trying to operate outside that connection causes internal breakdown—like a diesel engine running on regular gasoline.

This union with God isn’t optional for those who want to live well; it’s essential. “Daily bread” isn’t just physical—it’s relational. This phrase calls us back to a posture of daily intimacy, ongoing trust, and life-giving connection. Even when God doesn’t give us what we want, this prayer invites us to receive what we need—sometimes the grace to say, “Enough is enough.”

3. This is the prayer of someone who sees life as “Us” rather than “Me”.

The final point centers on the plural nature of the prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Following Jesus is never a solo journey. This prayer is a collective cry, a reminder that we are part of a community of interdependence. To pray it with integrity means not only asking God to provide for ourselves, but being open to becoming God’s provision for others.

Dr. Doucet challenges listeners to embrace their role in the “us”—not just the Church, but the broader world. That might look like sharing resources, responding to needs, or giving generously so others don’t go without. Living this way turns us into vessels of grace and changes how we view our possessions, our prayers, and our purpose.

Closing Insight

The talk ends with a powerful parable of a mystic who moves from praying to change the world, to changing others, to finally praying for the grace to change himself. That journey of humility and growth echoes the spirit of “Give us this day our daily bread”—a prayer that invites us into interdependence, connection, and compassion.

Conclusion:

To pray the Lord’s Prayer—especially this line—is to say:

• “I choose to trust you daily, God.”

• “I need you at the center of my life.”

• “I am part of a greater ‘us’ called to care and share.”

It is not just a ritual. It is a radical invitation to reframe our lives around the God who provides—daily, lovingly, and abundantly.