Saying 'Grace:' Prayer with Meals

Hello saints!

I have always had the habit to "say grace" when eating a meal. Even before my mother came to Christ, this was standard cultural practice in our home when we sat down together to eat. Of course, it became meaningful to me after I believed in Jesus. Instead of a token prayer or practice, I truly meant what I said with gratitude to the Lord.

This practice has been a part of my life ever since. There have been many times -- at restaurants, college cafeterias, work, etc. -- where I was approached by people who either "thanked me" for such a simple depiction of faith (which wasn't my intent) or who commenced a discussion with me.

Recently, I was approached by a believer who seemed irked that I gave thanks prior to eating a meal. This person kindly scolded me for it being a "ritual" tha tis "extrabiblical" and something that "makes people around you feel uncomfortable."

Now, I would never pretend that praying before, during or after a meal is an essential part of the faith. Nor would I ever do it to intentionally cause angst or to "shame" those around me. I explained to this person that I was simply grateful to God and thanking him for what he has provided. I think that this person understood this; but, this person still made the effort to encourage me to give up my practice.

Since then, I have noticed people who are believers who do not pray. I certainly won't judge them for it. However, it makes me wonder whether this experience (eating a meal without grace before or after it) is common now among the church.

I know a little about the history of "grace" in Christianity and Judaism. There was a short thread on SermonIndex about five years ago that discussed this (and it was actually the ninth returned result on Google when I searched for "saying grace history." Compton provided some great points and mentioned how Paul (in Acts 27:35) "gave thanks" prior to breaking bread and eating.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? I'm trying to read the history of it as pertaining to believers. At the same time, I wonder just how prevalent the practice is today among believers in America and elsewhere.

Is it possible to be thankful without praying or telling God that you are thankful? That thought just popped in my head.

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

What does "give thanks" mean in this verse? Obviously it does not that we need to stop and pray every .5 seconds ("thank you for the chair I am sitting on;" "thank you for my iPhone I am typing on;" "thank you for my finger I am typing with (note finger not fingers).

You catch my drift.

All that said, I think it is proper to pray before meals; there is certainly nothing improper about it.

I always pray before all my meals, who cares what anyone thinks, my relationship with the Lord is my business, and if you don't have something good to say, well then what you're saying is not from God. Carry on Brother, pay no attention to the world, because they're worldly Christians.

I love it when my grandkids pray before meals-- except for the knock down drag out fight over who gets to do the praying. (Slight exaggeration)

They used to sing:

Thank you Father, Thank you Father
For our food, for our food
Many many blessings, many many blessings
Amen, amen (to the tune of Frere Jacques)

It was pretty sweet.

Now they say the Lords Prayer; the oldest says her own prayer.

ADD: The Didache seems to recommend praying AFTER eating:

1. But after you are satisfied with food, thus give thanks:
2. "We give thanks to thee, O Holy Father, for thy Holy Name which thou didst make to tabernacle in out hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which thou didst make known to us through Jesus thy Child. To thee be glory for ever.
3. Thou, Lord Almighty, didst create all things for thy Name's sake, and didst give food and drink to men for their enjoyment, that they might give thanks to thee, but us hast thou blessed with spiritual food and drink and eternal light through thy Child.
4. Above all we give thanks to thee for that thou art mighty. To thee be glory for ever.

I'm just puzzled to know why someone decided to call giving thanks to God over your food "saying grace". Grace is what we receive from God. It should be called saying or giving thanks. We have all heard it so many times as "saying grace" that we don't bat a eye. It is not a "barn burner" of an issue with me. It just seems odd.

- Daniel

I don't say a prayer before I eat on my own. I can remember why as well. I was attending a church of God and they had a dinner after service. Pastor prayed over the meal and we all ate. When I got home I ended up throwing up some of that food. I was perplexed because I thought that praying over a meal would bless the food. My body threw it up instead and I was left speechless as to the correlation of prayer and eating. I decided after that I would no longer say grace. Often times when I sit down with other family who say grace I will bow my head but my memory points back to this time when I threw up and I ask 'What really is the point? If there is something bad in the food you will get sick as I did so what happened to prayer?' That is where my mind is when grace is said.

Hi Daniel,

That is a good question. I've been trying to look up some information about it, but I can't find the etymology of the phrase. However, I have read books (from biographies and history books to fiction and educational books) in English going back hundreds of years in which giving thanks was referred to as "grace." It would indeed be interesting to learn how it became so commonly referred to as "grace."

Like I stated, I would never consider this an essential issue. It just deeply bothered someone that I know. Like someone else said, I think that it is important to be thankful always (and not just before a meal).

In the previous thread (from about five years back), Compton brought up the example of Paul in the Book of Acts giving thanks prior to a meal. I was just reading about the "Last Supper" in Luke 22 where it records Jesus as giving "thanks" prior to distributing both the bread and the wine.

I'm very interested about the practice among non-American believers. It seems like it was common practice among believers and even non-believers alike many years ago in America. I was very puzzled by how giving thanks seemed to deeply irk another believer.

These are a few scriptures that show our Lord Jesus and Paul the Apostle setting an example of giving thanks verbally for the food they ate, and encouraging us to do likewise:

"Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.”-Matt. 14:19

"Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”-John 6:11

"And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.”-Acts 27:35

"For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”-1 Tim. 4:4-5

When I’m eating with my immediate family, with other family members, with other believers, or by myself with no one else near me this is a given for me, no ifs ands or buts. But the thing I sometimes struggle with is determining whether there are certain other times (like when I’m by myself and there are non-believers nearby) when it may not be the best or wisest time to pray out loud in front of those folks. When I’m in that kind of situation I tend not to pray out loud (only in my mind) because I think it may come across as me trying to show off spiritually or something.

In the above scriptural examples our Lord and Paul were eating with others, whether believers or non-believers.

But as I reflect on it, I’m thinking it may just be my flesh deceiving me and making me cower. Will have to seek the Lord on it I guess.

I always loved this painting- "Saying Grace" by Norman Rockwell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saying_Grace_(painting)?wprov=sfti1

Now Oracio-- you are out preaching on a street corner but say that saying a prayer over a meal in public makes you cower.

I don't think boldness is your problem; I think you may be getting a check in your spirit for the reasons you mentioned.

The person who spoke with Chris seemed to be saying the same thing, namely that it can be viewed as spiritual pride or making bystanders captive to our religious observance. Not saying I agree with this conclusion at all.

Personally I think most people could care less if they see someone praying over a meal in a restaurant.

However, if you pray visibly in a restaurant, leave a good tip, regardless of the service!!

Definitely food for thought Todd.

Well,

I've been raised up in Bulgaria and we do pray before eating! :) My dad even mentioned that in Nigeria they prayed before and after eating a meal.

As for me, I usually pray only prior to eating. I did not do it most of the time when I was in school, but on my first day in university we got with a group of people to the cafetaria and got something for lunch. I was literally trembling and I did not even knew the people ;d but I was convinced that I should not begin to eat without praying. So I did it. And since then it has become much easier. Sometimes when I eat with other colleagues, I tell them that I have the habit of praying before eating. And some don't object, I guess others feel awkward (not that they have told me, but I feel it).

But interessting conversation started a couple of times after a simple prayer... and that was the way I understood actually why I wear head covering when praying, but thats another story.

Jesus prayed before giving food not only on the Lord's supper but also before feeding the multitudes. Paul prayed too. I think it is a good to follow their example and teach our children do the same. I am glad my parents taught me. :)

I can just encourage you to go on anyway. Some Muslims "present" their religion all day long and it is considered their right (at least in Germany I think). So what's the problem when I pray?! I don't do it for the show (it would be much easier just to do what all others do), but I do it because I want just to thank God.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31