Prayer Is Intimacy with God

Excerpt taken from On Our Knees: 40 Days to Living Boldly in Prayer by Phil Wickham

Day 1
Prayer Is Intimacy with God

THE STORY:
READ GENESIS CHAPTERS 1–3

God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:27–28).

The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed (Genesis 2:7–8).

The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8).

THE PROMISE:
PRAYER IS LIKE A WALK IN THE GARDEN

Opening to the first chapters of the Bible, we see immediately the incredible truth that we were uniquely designed to live in a close relationship with God. The very God who created the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the stars, and called it all “good” also made you and me. The Bible tells us that the God of the universe literally formed us with His hands and animated us with His own breath. I’m amazed at how we are all created uniquely in His image. The entire creation story is this picture of intimacy. Consider the fact that every time you inhale and exhale, it is a gift from the loving God who breathed life into Adam. And what about the beautiful idea that God strolled through the garden to spend time with Adam and Eve? What a great reminder that God wants to be close to me! Reconnecting to this kind of closeness with God has become my heart’s desire with prayer.

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that prayer is formal and religious, but the Bible reminds us that, from creation, God has always desired to walk and talk with us. It makes me think about my relationship with my wife, Mallory, and how we are intentional about connecting just to talk about our day amid all the busyness of life. Those intentional moments are what help keep us close and strong. Some evenings we will take a walk in the park with the dogs to catch up, check in, and simply be together. I can imagine that was exactly God’s intent for His strolls through the garden to talk with Adam and Eve. It makes me realize that I have to be intentional with God in the same way.

As I learn more about prayer, I’m rediscovering that the God of the universe wants to have a conversation with me every single day. The God who formed me and breathed life into me also desires an intimate connection with me. He actually wants to hear from me about all the details of my life. I’m learning to lean into conversations with God and leave out the prayer formulas. I’m getting better about just talking to Him about everything. Sometimes it is as simple as, “I know you were there with me today, but that was a really hard moment. …” Or, “Can you believe how crazy today is, God?” I think He meant for us to pray like that.

These talks with God are often the best moments of my day. And every time I make that effort to speak with God, I’m amazed to find that He has been waiting for me all along to open my heart in prayer. The creation story reminds us that we were designed for intimacy with God, so I want to be as intentional about praying each day as He was about strolling through the garden with Adam and Eve.

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me to remember that You are here to walk with me and talk with me each day, just as You did with Adam and Eve in the garden. Remind me that You are ready to listen, even during the busyness and distractions of my day, and that You about every detail of my life. Amen.

PRAYER PRACTICE

Take a few moments to go for a short walk and have an honest conversation with God. Remember, He is very close and desires to be part of every moment of your life. You don’t have to be formal, and you don’t have to use a religious formula when praying. Simply take time to discuss with Him what is actually going on in your life. Tell Him how you feel, what you’re worried about, whatever is on your mind! Think of it as an investment in your relationship with your heavenly Father.

PRAYER REFLECTIONS

• What does it mean to you to know that you are created in the image of God and that He desires a relationship with you?
• How often do you schedule specific time to have a conversation with God?
• What are the things that distract you from talking with God?
• How can you approach prayer as a conversation with God instead of following a religious formula?

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