Prayer walking has been an important part of my prayer life for many years. The motion and rhythm of walking seems to help me express myself, especially when I’m struggling with something or feeling the need to talk through something with God.
In pleasant weather, especially, walking while I pray helps me to pray longer and differently than I typically do otherwise. Some of my most fruitful prayer walks are on my weekly Sabbath when I’m not following a schedule.
Most of my prayer walking has been (I imagine) something like that of Adam and Eve, who must have enjoyed the nearness of God while plodding Eden’s garden paths (Genesis 3:8), or like Enoch, who “walked with God” (Genesis 5:22, KJV).
But like many others, I’ve also prayed as I walked a specific route. For example, when our church plant identified a parcel of land for a possible permanent home, I walked the perimeter of the property numerous times, praying for God’s will and his provision.
Like the army of Israel marching around Jericho (Joshua 6), I’ve circled a chapel where spiritual warfare was raging. And, like the nascent nation of Israel claiming victory in Canaan (Deuteronomy 11:24), I’ve participated in prayer walks around neighborhoods where outreach efforts were planned.
Prayer walking requires no equipment other than a willing heart and comfortable walking shoes. You don’t even have to go outside; I have often paced the floor of my study or prayed while trying to quiet a restless infant.
You can come up with a plan or wing it. You can invite a prayer partner or group to join you. You can pray in response to what or who you see on your walk. You can listen to worship music on your smartphone or iPod. You can even practice silent meditation, asking God to speak to you as you walk.
Just one more thing: this is one way to pray that should probably be done with your eyes open.
Here are a couple of resources to help you in your prayer walking: a downloadable guide and a book on prayer walking.
