Psalm 116:12
Forget not to pray unto God for a blessing on the things you are to partake. For as the apostle says, "Every creature of God is good, being sanctified by the Word of God, and prayer" (1 Tim. 4:4-5). By the Word, as it does show, and warrant our right thereunto; and by prayer, as it is a means appointed by God for obtaining His blessing upon our food, without which it will do us little good. "For man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:1); that is, bread does not nourish by its own power, but by the appointment and blessing of God.
And therefore it was the usual practice of our Savior to lift up His eyes and crave a blessing upon the creatures, before He did partake of them, which has been the usual practice of the saints and people of God, before and since Christ's time (1 Sam. 9:13; Acts 27:30).
Having therefore such worthy patterns and precedents, follow them, not daring to partake of any of God's good creatures, until you have lifted up your heart to God and craved His blessing upon them, for otherwise how justly might you expect from God a curse rather than a blessing? The things on your table are God's things, and therefore you must need be more bold than welcome, if you make use of them without asking His blessing.
—Thomas Gouge
Readings taken from Day by Day with the English Puritans
Forget not to pray unto God for a blessing on the things you are to partake. For as the apostle says, "Every creature of God is good, being sanctified by the Word of God, and prayer" (1 Tim. 4:4-5). By the Word, as it does show, and warrant our right thereunto; and by prayer, as it is a means appointed by God for obtaining His blessing upon our food, without which it will do us little good. "For man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:1); that is, bread does not nourish by its own power, but by the appointment and blessing of God.
And therefore it was the usual practice of our Savior to lift up His eyes and crave a blessing upon the creatures, before He did partake of them, which has been the usual practice of the saints and people of God, before and since Christ's time (1 Sam. 9:13; Acts 27:30).
Having therefore such worthy patterns and precedents, follow them, not daring to partake of any of God's good creatures, until you have lifted up your heart to God and craved His blessing upon them, for otherwise how justly might you expect from God a curse rather than a blessing? The things on your table are God's things, and therefore you must need be more bold than welcome, if you make use of them without asking His blessing.
—Thomas Gouge
Readings taken from Day by Day with the English Puritans
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