Prayer before meals: request and thanks

Gluttony - the beginning of all vices and the firststep of sin, leading down. But this does not mean that we must starve ourselves and bring to exhaustion. The ascetic feats are not for laymen who risk falling through excessive abstinence into a much worse sin - pride. Monks are prescribed strict restrictions, because they are constantly under the supervision of their confessors, and pride can be discovered in the early stages. The rest is enough to be moderate and reasonable. Prayer before eating is something from which you need to start attending Orthodox asceticism.

Iron for strengthening

The importance of addressing to God before reinforcementforces knew for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary that the prayer before eating be read. There is an appeal to God after eating. Believers pray and during meals. I met an interesting Orthodox story about a man who saw more than others. He watched several monks, who hungered for hunger. Those who thought about the worldly during the meal did not benefit. And the monk, who during the meal prayed, grew bodily and spiritually stronger, as if from the food iron for his body and spirit was obtained.

Two options to choose from

What prayer should I read before eating? There are two options. Or the standard "Our Father", which every Christian knows. Or a shorter prayer, written specifically for meals. It says that in the desire to be full, a person relies on God, since he cares for him. Expressed confidence that food is sent to a person exactly when he needs it, at the right time. The Lord is glorified because his hand is generous. It says in it and the belief that the Lord can satisfy all our bodily needs.

Do not curse yourself!

Why do they read the "Our Father" before eating? She was not created originally as a prayer before eating? First, this appeal to the Lord from beginning to end is set out in the Scripture itself. Secondly, in it a person asks God to give bread for every day. And this is the main reason that it is prescribed to read before eating as an alternative to prayer before eating. But it involves much more than just praise to God and thanks for the daily bread. Together with the request for food, we are asked to resolve our sins. But we must remember that sins called debt in prayer can be forgiven if you yourself forgive the guilty before you. If you refuse to forgive, then "Our Father" becomes a real curse for you. You condemn yourself for your sins, because you condemn others.

Prayer before meals Orthodox mustsupplemented with a prayer after eating food, which is often forgotten. Often a person can not finish a meal in any way, walks and takes food in addition. This is already a form of gluttony. To mentally set the point after eating, read the prayer. Of course, it is not a magical spell and will not make you refrain from eating. But morally it will be easier for you to restrain yourself.