You'll never believe how hard this is ... — The Blue-Collar Bible Scholar

I’m going to try to convince you that you need to start praying, after you eat. Now hold on, I know that praying before the meal has a long and established tradition in Christianity stretching back to Jesus himself. I’m just suggesting that you consider another way.

The New Testament example is one of praying before the meal: Jesus gives thanks before the multiplying the loaves and fishes, before breaking bread at the last supper, and when He eats with His disciples at Emmaus. The apostle Paul also gives thanks for his food before he eats. It’s an important spiritual discipline that encourages a life of gratitude.

I found this verse a little while ago and thought it sounded like an interesting direction to go. Little did I know it has proven the hardest thing I’ve attempted in my life. So I’m reading Deuteronomy and I come across this:

And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12

Then, just two chapters later it says:

And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Deuteronomy 8:10

Moses flat out says, you need to remember to thank God after you’ve eaten and are full. So I said, “Yeah, no problem. I’ll start praying after I eat.” Boy, was I wrong. A surprising thing happens when you get done eating, talking, and laughing … you forget. In 5 years of trying to do this, I’ve remembered twice. Only twice have I gotten all the way through a meal, put my plate a way, then sat down and prayed. It is mind blowing how easy it is to forget to thank God, once you’re full, comfortable, and looking for desert.

It seems so strange that the hardest time to thank God is the one that should be the easiest. So I issue this challenge to you: After each meal you eat this week, stop when your done, turn your heart to heaven, and give thanks.