Prayer is the most intimate way we interact with God. The deeper the intimacy, the closer the connection and bond we have with our Lord.
In a romantic sense, intimacy has a certain fluidity. It’s comfortable and it feels right. A lack of intimacy feels awkward and uncomfortable, which can make us hesitant…frustrated even, frustrated to even keep trying. The irony is that the only way to achieve intimacy is to work through the frustration and the hesitancy.
In a Spiritual sense, prayer can feel awkward at times. People may feel inadequate in prayer because that sense of intimacy is lacking. If you don’t feel right or comfortable, this can lead to hesitancy to talk to God, or worse yet, frustration with God for not initiating the intimacy.
This book of prayers sparks that intimate relationship with God. Its personal and its vulnerable. God initiated a close relationship with you through his word. He shared with you his thoughts, his character, his personality, his feelings, and even his own body in the person of his son.
By praying his word, we also grow our relationship with him. We receive the love, affection, and promises he shares with us. We also reciprocate the relationship by sharing our concerns and desires with him. By praying his word, we remove the awkward and inadequate feelings. We see ourselves as the object of his affection, as he has already said we are. We ourselves are chosen, special, and set apart just for him (1 PET 2:9).
Donell L. Barnett, PhD
Ordained Minister and Licensed Psychologist
DLBarnett, LLC.
