Prayer before meals is a common practice among many Christians. Though not necessarily commanded in Scripture, praying before meals is a way for believers to give thanks to God, seek His blessing, and remember that all good things come from Him. Here are some key reasons Christians often pray before meals:
1. To thank God for the food
One of the main reasons believers pray before meals is to thank God for providing the food they are about to eat. All sustenance ultimately comes from the Lord, who causes the earth to bring forth food and who gives people the ability to obtain and prepare it (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). When we sit down to eat, it is an opportunity to thank the One who has graciously supplied what we need to nourish our bodies.
Giving thanks to God for daily bread and provision is modeled throughout Scripture. Jesus gave thanks before the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:11). Paul urges believers to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And the Lord’s Prayer includes petitioning God for daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Pausing before a meal to thank the Lord follows biblical examples of gratitude.
2. To sanctify the meal
Praying before eating is also a way of setting apart or sanctifying that meal for God’s purposes. Though there are no “unclean” foods under the New Covenant as there were under the Mosaic Law (Mark 7:19), asking God to bless the food acknowledges that the meal is a gift from Him.
This act of sanctification is illustrated in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul writes, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). While all foods are inherently clean, prayer sets the meal apart as holy and devoted to God.
3. To seek God’s blessing
Praying before eating is an opportunity to ask God to bless the food, those eating it, and the time of fellowship around the meal. While God does not need to be begged or persuaded to bless His children, prayer is a way of humbly expressing dependence upon Him.
Seeking God’s blessing demonstrates that the food is not being consumed merely for selfish pleasure or indulgence. It is an act of reverence and worship, recognizing that God is the ultimate Provider. Jesus looked upward and blessed the food before breaking bread with His disciples (Luke 9:16). Praying before meals follows this example of the Savior.
4. To enhance spiritual nourishment
Beyond just physical nourishment, mealtimes provide opportunity for spiritual nourishment and growth as well. Prayers before meals allow believers to ask God to use the food to strengthen them spiritually. In biblical times, meals were about far more than just physical sustenance – they were times of relationship building, discipleship, and community.
Jesus often used mealtimes as opportunities to teach spiritual truths (Luke 7:36-50, Luke 14). The early church incorporated times of teaching and fellowship into meals together (Acts 2:42). Part of the purpose of daily bread is to nourish the soul. Prayer reminds believers to be intentional about also seeking spiritual nourishment around mealtimes.
5. To foster thankfulness and contentment
Pausing to thank God before eating can be a helpful reminder not to take daily provision for granted. Expressing gratitude fosters an attitude of thankfulness and contentment with what the Lord supplies. It combats ungratefulness, entitlement, or discontentment with God’s provision.
The Israelites in the wilderness frequently grumbled about God’s provision of manna. In response, the Lord rebuked their ingratitude but also instructed Moses to place some manna in the Ark of the Covenant, “so that your generations may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 16:32). Prayer helps believers remember God’s faithfulness in provision.
6. To follow biblical examples and commands
While not overtly commanded in Scripture, praying before meals follows the example of Jesus and aligns with biblical principles of giving thanks, sanctifying God’s gifts, expressing dependence on Him, and intentionally using mealtimes for spiritual good. It is a tangible way for believers to heed commands like “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer” (Philippians 4:6), and “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).
7. To remember Christ’s sacrifice
For believers who pray before meals, the act can serve as a regular reminder of Christ’s death on the cross and the spiritual sustenance He provides. Jesus Himself instituted this connection during the Last Supper, explaining that the bread symbolized His body broken for us and the wine His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28).
Paul also draws this parallel in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. He rebukes the Corinthians for the way they conduct themselves during the Lord’s Supper meant to proclaim Christ’s sacrificial death. Taking a moment before each meal to give thanks is a way believers can honor Christ’s sacrifice which makes spiritual (and physical) nourishment possible.
8. To glorify God
Ultimately, praying before meals brings glory and honor to God. It is an act of worship recognizing that He is the Provider of all good gifts (James 1:17). It expresses dependence on Him, gratitude for His faithful provision, and a desire to use His gifts wisely. Jesus instructs that God should be honored and glorified in all things – even something as routine eating a meal (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Matthew Henry writes of giving thanks before meals, “God’s good creatures must be received with thanksgiving. We must not only thank God for them as gifts, but receive them with thanksgiving, as the products of God’s providential care over us. When we come to ask a blessing on our meat, thereby owning our dependence on God, we must withal thank him for it as the fruit of his goodness…” (Matthew Henry Commentary on 1 Timothy 4).
9. To bear witness
When believers give thanks to God before eating in public settings like restaurants, it provides a subtle witness to those around them. Though prayer should not be done for show or to call attention to oneself (Matthew 6:5), quietly blessing one’s meal in view of others allows the light of Christ to shine through that action. Nonbelievers may be prompted to consider the Source of their own daily bread.
Jesus instructs His followers, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). For some, praying before eating may be one of the few “good works” they regularly observe Christians doing on a daily basis. It stands out as distinctly Christian behavior.
10. To develop gratitude and reliance on God
Over time, praying before meals cultivates an attitude of gratitude and greater reliance on God. It builds the habit of thanking Him first rather than treating His gifts as something merely to be enjoyed. Developing this reflex to turn to God reminds believers that He is the Giver of all good gifts.
Paul encourages Christians to “devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). Routinely expressing thanks to God before meals helps the believer stay alert in prayer with a thankful heart. It reorients the recipient to become more aware of God’s provision and care in both physical and spiritual realms.
11. To unite families in shared purpose
For families that regularly pray together before meals, it unites them in shared love for God and reliance on Him. It facilitates fellowship, reminds children of God’s care, and fosters common identity in Christ. Even when believers cannot physically gather for meals, praying before eating can still unite them in common purpose and appreciation for God’s gifts.
The Psalms frequently speak of unity among God’s people by using the metaphor of sharing a meal: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.” (Psalm 133:1, 3). Shared prayers at mealtime facilitate unity.
12. To remind believers of their eternal hope
In Revelation 19, the apostle John describes a great wedding feast called the “marriage supper of the Lamb” that believers will share with Christ for eternity. Prayer at earthly meals can remind Christians of this coming day of celebration and fellowship with the Savior.
John writes, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). Those invited to this eschatological feast are believers in Christ. Pausing for prayer before daily meals helps nourish eager expectation for that eternal, unhindered communion with the Savior and all the saints.
In conclusion, praying before meals is an important practice for many believers though not explicitly commanded in Scripture. It facilitates gratitude to God, reliance on Him, unity among Christians, witness to the lost, anticipation of eternal life, and the cultivation of a humble and worshipful heart. Though a common act, praying before meals significantly shapes the believer’s posture before the Giver of all good gifts.