Prayer walking as a church can be a great way to seek the Lord’s guidance for interacting in our community. As we connect with God and the people in our city, we will see how He is already at work. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” Thank you for caring for the people of Salem and for reflecting the love of Jesus to those around us!
Here are some best practices to help you in your prayer walk:
1.Prepare your heart with prayer:
Even before you go on the prayer walk, starting with prayer gets our heart and mind in the right place. In the pre-walk prayer we ask the Lord to give us eyes to see and ears to hear, to give us discernment is what to pray for on our walk, to allow us to see Him at work in our community.
Pray for divine appointments with a Person of Peace (someone who is interested in what you’re sharing) on your walk.
It can be helpful to read these passages ahead of time as well:
Psalm 24; Acts 8:26-31 (sharing with the Ethiopian eunuch); Acts 10:1
2. Plan your route & who you’ll go with:
If possible, have a prayer walk partner. Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs so go with your spouse, a friend, your family, or a couple people you know. *Avoid going as a large group – the goal isn’t to draw attention to yourself, it is to follow the Lord.
Know the layout of the area you’re walking & choose a route you’ll take.
3. Begin walking:
It may take some time to get into a rhythm. Perhaps you’ll pray silently, or softly out loud, or maybe you’ll hum a worship song as you go.
Be aware of your surroundings. It is important to start out & remain positive in your walk, even in places with darkness. What is happening where you are walking? Who do you see? Every person you encounter is an image bearer of God. They we’re created and are loved by Him. Try to see people how God sees them, and think of people how God thinks of them.
If you’re not sure what to do at first you might want to pray specific Scripture with the area you’re in. A great place to start is “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in Salem as it is in Heaven.” More great passages are Proverbs 21:21; Romans 10:14; 2 Cor 3:17.
4. Listen to Holy Spirit:
As you’re on your journey make sure to make room for Holy Spirit to guide you. Silence can be intimidating if you’re not used to it. We often fill every moment of silence with something so we stay distracted from what really matters most. These are often the times that Holy Spirit is nudging us, in the still quiet of a calm walk.
5. Be a student & ask curious questions:
A prayer walk engages all our senses in a physical act of faith. God has given us these wonderful gifts of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. You’ll get to use many of these in your walk. Perhaps you’ll get to experience them all!
Ponder these questions on your own or with your group as you walk:
- Who do you see? Are there lots of people around the area you’re walking? They each have a story to tell, a pain they’re experiencing, a joy to share, and a hope to dream. Seeing people as created by God and loved by God helps shape our prayer time.
- What do you hear? Machinery moving, cars driving, people talking or birds chirping. Sounds can help guide your prayers.
- What do you smell? Food cooking, grass being cut, fresh flowers, or other smells can help guide your prayers.
- What is happening around you? Are people laughing, walking briskly, playing a sport, or gathering to talk? Maybe you’re walking by someone in an argument or maybe people are participating in an activity. Is it quiet and no one is around? Use what you see around you to help guide your prayers.
- What are you feeling as you walk? It might be the Holy Spirit nudging you toward someone.
More great questions to think through as you walk:
- What are the challenges and pain that exist in this place?
- Who are those in need? What does good news sound like to them?
- What idols are worshipped? What do people care about most?
- Where are the celebrations? How can we affirm and join in?
- Where do I see God already at work? How can we be present here?
- What do I sense the Holy Spirit is saying to me in all this?
6. Encourage people you meet:
The goal is to walk with God, seeing people as He sees them and to connect with people in our community. If you get to interact with people on your walk. Feel free to ask them some of the questions previously listed. They may have a better idea of how to answer than you do especially if it’s their neighborhood. If you get this opportunity, make the most of it by listening well, encouraging the people you talk to, and thank them for sharing with you. If the conversation is going well you can ask them if you can pray for them.
7. Regather & recap when you’re finished:
If you are walking with others, take a few minutes and recap how it went. Share stories of how the journey felt, what you did, and any interactions you may have had. Celebrate any wins that you can!
A conversation with someone, an opportunity to pray, a smile or wave from someone passing by, a greater understanding of the neighborhood you walked, a perspective shift, or a fear overcome are all BIG and worthy of celebration among the body of Christ!
Don’t be discouraged if “nothing” happened. If you went on the prayer walk, then these things are true: God was with you, you took time to join the body of Christ to pray for your community and the Lord will honor that.
Do’s:
- Pray audibly but at a conversational volume
- Keep walking while praying
- Try to engage neighbors during prayer walking time if the opportunity presents
- Make specific observations about houses/areas you pass
- Use landmarks as prayer prompts
- Stay alert to your surroundings
Don’ts:
- Don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself
- Don’t trespass on private property
- Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results
- Don’t feel pressured to pray for everything at once
- Don’t assume you know everything about someone based on how they look, or where they live.