Prayerwalking
Have you considered “prayerwalking” through your neighborhood?
For years my friend Mary took Jesus command to “love your neighbor as yourself” by continually praying over her neighborhood when she walked. In fact, she did this for years.
Walking her streets, she made a habit to proclaim:
“Lord, we invite the King of Glory to come in. Come forth and bring Your glory into this neighborhood. Release your blessings to the families here. Protect them from harm. Let them know You and Your love for them. Accomplish Your will through their lives.”
One of her neighborhood’s most successful events was called “Meet You at the Corner.” The neighbors gathered on a Saturday morning before Easter for a short service, declaring. “He is alive!” They shared refreshments and fellowship. Even the children came along with their parents. 1
In their book Prayerwalking, Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick explain, “Prayer walking is on-site prayer—simply praying in the very places where you expect your prayers to be answered.” They continue:
“Walking helps sensitize you to the realities of your community. Sounds, sights, and smells, far from distracting your prayer, engage both body and mind in the art of praying. Better perception means boosted intercession.
“Walking also connects Christians with their own neighborhoods. By regularly passing through the streets to their cities, walkers can present an easygoing accessibility to neighbors. Walking seems to create opportunities to help or to pray for new friends on the spot, right at the times of great need.” 2
In my neighborhood today many of our neighbors seem to arrive at the common mailbox around the same time—right after the mailman has made his delivery. Short conversation is exchanged and often neighbors share family activities or concerns. An alert intercessor can take the opportunity to pray right then for that person if he or she is willing or just take the concern to God during their prayer time at home later.
In light of recent violence in some of our communities, some streets present risks. So many intercessors now use “drive-by prayer” instead of walking. And they have learned the history of the area they pray over, so they are able to pray more specifically.
Memorizing certain Scriptures to pray aloud is one helpful tool for the intercessor who is declaring God’s love for the city and asking His protection. We know women who gather in cars and drive to pray by their children’s schools and their husband’s workplaces.
Experienced intercessors offer these hints:
- Prepare your heart with the Lord. Is it free of judgment?
- Evaluate the neighborhood/ streets by knowing its history or layout.
- Don’t take on too much territory all at once.
- Pick only a few families to pray for during your devotional time at home.
- Ask God for His purpose and vision for your prayer walk.
- Memorize Scriptures to say aloud, declaring God’s love for your neighbors.
- Give God thanks for your city and neighbors– standing with them in repentance, crying out for mercy and extending God’s blessings on them. 3
Let’s ask God what He wants as our specific prayer assignment for our neighborhood and/or community where we live. And then let’s be faithful to that commitment.
Prayer: Lord, help me reach out to my neighbors. I desire to be a Good Samaritan in bringing them to You. Whether they are next door, at the grocery store, workplace or wherever our paths cross, help me to be Your hands extended. Bless my neighbors today. I ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Scripture: “Pray for one another…the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV).
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 31)
Footnotes:
- Excerpts from A Woman’s Guide to Spirit-Filled Living, Quin Sherrer and Ruthanne Garlock, Servant Publication, 1996), pp. 228-229..
- Steve Hawthorne and Graham Kendrick, Prayerwalking, (Orlando, FL.: Creation House, 1993), pp. 15- 17.
- Quin Sherrer, Good Night, Lord, (Ventura, CA.: Regal Books, 2000) 149.
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