The personal touch means definiteness; specific mention of things for which you are grateful. Somebody somewhere is going to be eternally grateful if you reach out and touch their life in love for Jesus.
I just want to remind you that the road to success in this matter of our ministry is not to work harder, but smarter. What does that mean? A better use of time and energy.
How else do you fill up your ministry and make it full? Well, “this is just horse sense” as my father used to say: Look for the natural outreaches of your basic ministry.
If you asked for your “just desserts” you would get God’s judgment; ask for His grace and His mercy in Christ so that you can have His love and His blessed Holy Spirit.
There has to come that point where all that you are is turned over to the control of the Blessed Spirit of God for the purpose of bringing people to Jesus Christ.
Give time to God’s Holy Spirit to quiet your heart. Most of us just rush in to God’s presence, say a few words, and rush out again. Take time to get quiet before God.
Now, what about this matter of agonizing in prayer? Are you supposed to make a production of it? No, not necessarily. But there is an earnestness in prayer that takes you beyond the polite little speeches that we generally give to God and label as prayers.