It’s very common for believers to pray before eating a meal. I think support for this practice comes from two places, at least:
Mark 8:6 — “And he directed the crowd to sit on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.”
Luke 22:19 — “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
What I find curious, though, is that we don’t usually pray before snacks. I don’t see any qualitative difference between mashed potatoes and an ice cream sandwich. We are indebted to God for both.
What do you think? Does our hesitancy to pray before snacking indicate some mistaken assumptions about dinnertime blessings? Or perhaps a false distinction between the sacred and the secular…or in this case, the meal and the munchies?
5 comments
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September 22, 2008 at 11:40 am
Wink Rush
Well, we are supposed to pray without ceasing. And if we really are thankful, which we ought to be, then praying for an ice cream sandwich sounds appropriate.
September 22, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Boaly
One of the fruits of being filled with the Spirit is ‘giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ’ Ephesians 5:20
I guess ‘for all things’ covers the munchies!
September 22, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Tyler Kenney
My Grammy has always modeled snack-time prayer to me, so it has been the practice of some! Thank you for these Scriptural reminders that praying before meals is Christ-like.
September 23, 2008 at 10:44 am
Should be Pray before Meals? « To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain
[...] Fool’s Gold has written an excellent question: Should we pray before snacks as well? I want to also pose the question: what is the purpose of [...]
September 30, 2008 at 8:47 am
John T Meche III
I think that not understanding why we “say grace” is the root of this problem. It’s more important to me that we actuallybe thankful for our food than that we say a prayer of thankfulness. The prayer can be a religious action, where true thankfulness for God’s provision is a much more sticky affair in a nation where food is so abundant/cheap/accessible. See how I gave an answer without acutally answering the question you posed? Man…I should go into politics.