Prayer-Walk: 4 Reasons to Start Today!

prayer-walkPRAYER-WALK: When you prayer-walk scripture, stress lifts and your peace returns. And it’s best to prayer-walk outside.

Here’s why. Here’s how.

Have you trudged through a day when everything went wrong? Maybe your computer crashed, or the pet barfed on the carpet. Perhaps you got really bad news. If you’re up to your eyebrows in quick-sand stress, you need peace now. Right?

Here’s a solution: Prayer-walk scripture. It gets you away from the distractions of technology, as long as you leave you phone at home, of course! Says bible translator Jordan Monson:

For two thousand years, the most private and undistracted place was behind the closed door. Now, the noise has relocated indoors. If our computers and devices are near, it’s the worst place to try to pray. Walking through Times Square is less distracting than sitting alone in a room full of technology.

4 Reasons!

When you prayer-walk a scripture, at least 4 awesome things happen:

  • your stress lessens
  • you connect deeply with God
  • you get exercise
  • you think on heavenly things, squelching anxiety

1. De-stress!

Have you ever had a week or a month or a year when one stress after another slammed you like a hurricane? Walking helps relieve stress, thus improving your mood and mental outlook. It also reduces muscle tension and stress hormones as well as high-pressure emotions like anxiety, anger, and depression.

2. Connect with God

When you prayer-walk a scripture — that is, talk with God about a specific bible verse and think on what it says and its application — you readjust your priorities and put first things first.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

For instance, while prayer-walking and thinking on Psalm 23:1, you might reflect on the meaning of “I shall not want” and tell God you give up self-rule and submit to him. In my walks while praying this verse, God has impressed on my heart the truth that he is in control. The result? I sense his strength and comfort, and worship him.

3. Move It

Walking unleashes the body’s endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters. And the motion loosens tight muscles and reduces mental stress too.

No doubt you’ve heard that the best exercise is the one you’ll actually do. If not walking, what exercise gets you moving? Swimming, biking, dance, or gardening? And how much exercise do you need? Dr. Edward R. Laskowski recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobice exercise weekly.

4. Think UP

God tells us what to think on: heavenly things.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

But your mind want to wander, right? When this happens to me, I refocus on the scripture I’m praying. Since I’m prayer-walking a single scripture verse or passage, this is simple to do. I simply go back to where I left off, or begin again.

How to Prayer-Walk

Here’s what my prayer-walk looks like. First, I choose a scripture. Psalm 23 is a favorite. I see the word pictures as I walk.

I say, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want” and picture a sheep happily resting on shoulders of a strong, gentle shepherd. I am the sheep.

And pray something like–

Father, you know my Honda’s transmission is acting up again. You know my needs. I am asking that you give me wisdom to make the right decision. Thank you that I have a car that runs.

Now the next verse. “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” My mind’s eye sees rolling hills of lush grass and a stream. I utter these words: Oh, yes, rest! Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that I need rest and that it’s good. It’s not a luxury. I don’t have to run around like a manic squirrel, trying to do everything that people ask.

What About Wacky Weather?

During crazy-bad weather, prayer-walk scriptures in the comfort of home. Simply walk in place. The more you move your arms, the higher your heart rate. Or choose a treadmill at a gym.

Most important: Get started. 🙂

Counseling hearts to hope,

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Prayer Walk through Psalm 23

Prayer Walk through Psalm 23

I used to “prayer walk” regularly then paused. How come? I had noticed I was spending less time praying through my neighborhood and more time coveting. Sure, I tossed up a few “Keep my kids safe, Lord” and “Help me be patient.”

But instead of praying

I spied 

this neighbor’s shiny new car

and that neighbor’s

lush, jungle green grass.

My prayer walk was all wrong. Something had to change. 

My prayer revealed a covetous heart

My focus on other people’s stuff revealed my covetous heart. I began to complain, not outwardly but inwardly.

Then I received a challenge from my author-friend Donna Partow, who wrote Becoming the Woman Wants Me to Be.

On day 22, Donna’s online accountability community read the chapter “Walk to Boost Energy.” While everyone knows walking is good for your health, she recommends we use our walks to pray.

Oh, NO! Not THAT!

So I prayed about praying. Then tried again, using a particular strategy: Recite Psalm 23 while walking.

God used Psalm 23 to renew my mind

Before the walks led me to awful places, like in-my-head yelling matches: Me versus me. Not peaceful!

Now I lingered in lush grass and by quiet waters. These word pictures from Psalm 23 soothed my soul and calmed me. It proved the perfect antidote to a stressful day of getting the kids off to school, working at my laptop, doing household chores, making dinner, and negotiating siblings’ squabbles.

My new prayer walk went like this:

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

Okay, God, you know I’m sick of my minivan. It’s 10 years old and banged up. I’d love the silver Audi I just walked by, but you know my needs. And I don’t need an Audi. I’m thankful I have a car that runs.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

Oh, yes, rest! Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that I need rest and that it’s good. It’s not a luxury. I don’t have to run around like a manic squirrel, digging holes to hide my acorns. I can say “No!” (nicely, of course) to the book fair coordinator at the school. I can and should breathe.

Or, later in the psalm: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

Not everyone is going to like me, Lord. I know that. I will have “enemies” for one reason or another. Maybe my kid teased my neighbor’s kid and now she gives me the cold shoulder. I am thankful that you act as the host and place me at the table with lots of food – and chocolate, of course – while those who hate me cannot touch me. You are my protector.

As my prayer walk ends, I feel a little sad. Praying through this psalm has cheered me. I sensed God’s peace.

Tomorrow? I think I’ll find a longer route.

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