Melanie and I are reading chapters from Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing Prayer with Jesus.

One excerpt:

It's important to note the very first word of [the Lord's] prayer is "Our" - stressing our corporate interdependence with other believers. When the disciples first heard this prayer, little did they know how significant their lives were either to Jesus or to one another. But this all-important "Our" was designed to set their hearts not only toward God, but toward others whom God has placed around them. The same is true for us.

Likewise, the repetition of that word "our" later in this prayer - in "our daily bread" and "our sins" - shows again that every disciple's concern in prayer must go beyond his own personal and individual interests. Each of us must remember, "I'm to pray for 'our daily bread,' not just my own needs; and I'm to look for forgiveness for 'our sins,' not just my own...

Even when you're praying alone, remember that God views your life as part of the larger family of God...

The weak condition of God's people in the churches today can be attributed to our neglect of intercession for them. This need for serious intercession from God's people is crucial in every generation, but especially ours, for there are now well over six billion living souls in our world, with their eternal destiny at stake.