You are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. —1 Corinthians 12:27
There are no single pronouns in the Lord’s Prayer—no mention of me, my, or I. Instead, you’ll see our, us, and we—collective, inclusive words that indicate this isn’t a self-centered prayer. That’s because Jesus isn’t just teaching us how to pray but how to live—both in relationship with Him and with others.
When we come to God, we draw near to Him as one of many children, organically linked with brothers and sisters throughout the world with whom we share a Father. So, when we pray for provision, we should be aware of needs beyond our own. When we pray for forgiveness, we should grieve over the sins of the entire church, realizing His mercy extends even to those we don’t feel like forgiving ourselves.
When we pray for our own spiritual protection, it’s with the recognition that others are depending on us to bring their cause before the throne of God. When we come to God in prayer, we don’t come alone. That makes prayer both a great privilege and a great responsibility.
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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings
©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
When you pray today, try to include the whole Body with the pronouns you use, whether offering praise, confession, or petitions.