Praying over meals... Biblical Mandate?

[Guest LadyC]

it actually was on my mind because of a funny poster i saw on facebook. believe it or not, i don't feel any guilt or conviction over it.

 

so am i seriously the only person here who does not pray specifically over each meal?

[ncn]

 

 

 

l just do it in the morning when i wake up, at random times throughout the day and at night... but for some reason it just never seems to be at the table unless i'm reminded by someone else.

 

 

 

 

 

If you started this thread , I think it must be on your mind. 

 

Maybe you could start now  

 

 

 

it actually was on my mind because of a funny poster i saw on facebook. believe it or not, i don't feel any guilt or conviction over it.

 

so am i seriously the only person here who does not pray specifically over each meal?

 

Please don't think I was trying in anyway to make you feel guilty , 

it was just a thought that came to me. 

 

God knows your heart and loves you. 

 

God Bless , 

Nigel. 

[1to3]

Lady C, I am not in the habit of praying before meals either. I don't say rote printed prayers or vain repititions. So I talk to God, and no one wants me to pray before a meal because the food gets cold. That doesn't mean I am not thankful for all God has provided us. Most Christians do pray but we were not raised in homes where this was done and are not it the habit of doing so.

Since this was written just after my post, I would just like to clarify that I do not say rote prayer or vain repetition when I pray, God knows my heart and knows where I stand.

My family especially on my mothers side where bible believing Christians . My father was raised in the catholic faith and chose to send me and my brother to the same french private catholic school that he attended. My father was born in Hungary and my mother was born in Germany. They met in Canada after the war. My father came to Canada before the war in 1926. Before my Father passed away from cancer, he had time to reflect with God and make peace with his faith in Christ Jesus.

 

While my father was dying of cancer, my mother seeked to find healing for my father. She found a radio show called ask the Pastor. From there my mother contacted this pastor to come and pray for my father. The pastor Robert Johnson came and prayed with my Father. It was my father who told my mother that this man was a true man of God. After my father passed away, my mother continued to go to this pastors church and I followed my mother.

This church was a pentecostal church. I was baptized as an adult of 21 years of age in that pentecostal church.

 

My brother after my father died, refused to ever go to any church. At the time my father passed away, I had just turned 13 years and my brother was 14 1/2 years. Sadly my brother is an atheist today. I continually pray for my brothers salvation and that of his family.

 

My mothers father was a born again christian and had relatives who were bible believing Christians. My mothers mother died just before the war ended. My mother was twenty. My mother immigrated to Montreal Canada at 21 years of age, and then my Grandfather followed afterwards. (Its a long story and a testimony also of the power of Christ Jesus working in their lives, as to how they came and immigrated to Canada.)

 

When I was young seven years old, we went to Europe to visit these relatives, my cousins who were a bible believing Christian family.

We all said grace before meals in our own words and for us children it was a real family experience to thank God before our meal.

After our individual prayer, where we each said a little word of gratitude from our own words, we all held hands and together said:  Gesegnete Mahlzeit =Blessed meal.

 

I value the christian values that my family had along with the family bonding that came from praying together as a family.

Edited February 5, 2015 by 1to3

[Hall7]

I often pray at home before eating and am trying to get used to praying before a meal in public places. I just started doing this in public because no matter how much I tried to justify that I didnt need to pray for a meal in public, deep inside I knew I was ashamed of what people might think of me if I prayed in front of everyone in a restaurant. We can't be ashamed of exposing God and our faith in public, and that is something I'm working on. We don't have to but I think It pleases God when we do.

[1x1is1]

We almost always say at least the default "Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts ......."  at shared meals.  Even tho it is a commn prayer and is recited from memory, I don't consider it repititious because it does come from the heart each time.  And it does cover the subject connected to a meal. 

 

In some cases, at larger group meals we ask our grandkids to say a prayer. Those are the best, it is always good to hear what they are really thankful for.

 

When I eat alone or snack, if I forget to say thanks beforehand, God has a special way of reminding me. He causes that first bite to taste soooooo good, that I remember staright away.  Then I say a quick thanks with a smile.

 

At special meals like Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving, I make up a 3 to 5 line prayer, print it out and have one of our adult children read it.  Sometimes that prayer is further discussed during the  actual meal.

[kwikphilly]

Blessings to All....

     This is a lovely thread, just wonderful to all come together glorifying God & sharing how we express our gratitude & love for Christ, in our hearts,in our homes ,with our familys or by ourselves..................thank you ,LadyC  for starting this thread & Praise the Lord for bringing us together to Bless His Holy Name

      I love Shilohs suggesting that eating be a act of worship,I love that Hall desires the boldness to pray publically,1 to 3's committment to carry on in the tradition her family taught her and how awesome is 1 x 1's  family gatherings......................Oh ,to God be the Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!

       Our Heavenly Father is MORE than Worthy of our Highest Praise,we are so Blessed,especially here in the USA,,,,,,,the majority has MORE than enough & it is very easy to take our daily bread for granted,in other parts of the world(& for some here also)......a little bisquit would be enough to bring them to their knees with tears of joy & thanksgiving,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,even more the reason to say a special prayer (& praise) of thanksgiving  before each meal ............Didn't Jesus say,,,,"Give us this day,our daily bread",,,,,,,& yet,He could have spoke food into existence...............

         I really like this discussion ,I pray before my meals,privately & publically and this conversation has filled my heart with even more gratitude and I didn't think I could feel more grateful..................each one of you  just give me great Joy,the Joy of our Lord!

                                                                                                                                                           With love-in Christ,Kwik

[B3L13v3R]

In agreement with praying/thanking God for our meals.

 

We pray quietly in public too over meals, and are occasionally heard.

Oftentimes this gives me opportunity to reach out to them with the Gospel when I see them looking in our direction!

 

Overall, we look to be thankful in prayer towards the good Lord for everything.

 

1Th 5:17-18

(17) Pray without ceasing.

(18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

Prayer mentioned here for food as well, to keep context, mentioning a few previous verses:

 

1Ti 4:1-5

(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(3) Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

(4) For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

(5)For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

[Sevenseas]

it actually was on my mind because of a funny poster i saw on facebook. believe it or not, i don't feel any guilt or conviction over it.

 

so am i seriously the only person here who does not pray specifically over each meal?

 

 

no, you are not...some people pray out of force of habit...if you have a truly thankful heart, perhaps that is what counts

 

you brought up a good question though and as usual, some have taken it to the nth degree

 

We are told to give thanks 

 

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  I Thess 5:18

 

I don't think this verse is saying give thanks for the circumstances...but rather continue to give thanks to God no matter the circumstances

 

That makes sense I think....seems being thankful is a heart issue.  

[coheir]

Deu 8

10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

 

It appears they may have given thanks after a meal in the O.T.

So I would go for eith way before or after

[missmuffet]

I pray over every meal.I am thankful for everything God provides for me big or small.And that includes a restaurant I am at or a friend's house.I pray over my checkbook when I pay my bills.