Prayer Walking
A prayer walk is simply walking and praying. As you walk say a little prayer for whomever and whatever you see as you walk by. When you walk past a house pray that the people inside are safe. If someone crosses your path pray for their health. If you see a fruit tree pray that it will bare fruit. The possibilities are endless.
My story
I used to have a lot of rage and anger inside of me, and for some reason it would all come out while I was walking. I’d have a lot of road rage, or might I call it ‘sidewalk’ rage? I’d walk fast and be angry. Then one day I saw a YouTube video of a pastor who organized prayer walks. He’d gather up a group of people, they’d walk and silently bless everything they passed. It seemed like a good way to get rid of my sidewalk rage. I do a lot of walking ~ walk to work, walk to the shops, walk my dog, and go for long walks with my wife on weekends. So I decided to do four things: walk slower, smile, notice the world around me, and pray. At about that time I got a dog.
How do you prayer walk?
I find that prayer walking works best if you set a specific start and ending time. Decide on an amount of time that suits you, “I’ll prayer walk for 10 minutes.” Or select a specific route, “I’ll prayer walk from my house to the park and back.”
I begin with a small ritual or protocol to put me into the right mindset. This might be the Lord’s Prayer or it a simple statement such as, “I will start prayer walking now.”
I also like to end with a short protocol to signify that the walk is over. This could be a prayer or a statement like, “My prayer walk is over now. thank you.”
If you don’t want to do a prayer walk alone reach out to some friends and plan a specific place to meet up. This is definitely an activity in which the more the merrier.
You can pray aloud, or silently. I generally prefer praying silently as people walking by might think I’m nuts. However, I do pray out load when I‘m certain no one is around. It’s very satisfying. You can walk alone, with a friend, or in a group. In the company of others it’s much better to pray out aloud. You can carry your Bible if you feel called to, or just walk.
Types of prayer
There are many types of prayer such as prayers of adoration, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of confession, prayers of intercession, and so on. I feel that there are three types of prayer that go well with prayer walking:
Supplicative prayers are requests for specific needs or desires. These prayers seek assistance, help, or guidance from a higher power. They can be personal or made on behalf of others. As you walk past a stranger’s house you could say something like, “Dear God, please help the people living here. May they be healthy and happy.”
Prayers of thanksgiving involve expressing gratitude to a higher power for blessings, provisions, and positive experiences in your life. It can be a way to recognize and appreciate the good things that have happened. As you walk past a fruit tree, you might say, “Dear God, thank you so much for you gift of abundance.”
Prayers of the heart, also known as contemplative or silent prayer, are a form of prayer in which you seek to commune with God in a deep and intimate way beyond the use of words or thoughts. When someone on a man on a bicycle rides past you, think about something positive about him such as his good posture or his excellent sense of fashion. Without words, send him love and admiration.
Setting a theme for prayer walking
Choosing a specific theme or intention for each prayer walk can add a layer of depth and purpose to your spiritual practice. It allows you to focus your thoughts, prayers, and reflections on a particular aspect of your life or the world around you. Here's how you can embrace the practice of setting themes for your prayer walks:
1. Identify your Intention
Before you begin your prayer walk, take a moment to reflect on what aspect of your life or the world you'd like to focus on during this particular walk. Consider your emotions, needs, and the current state of affairs. For example:
Gratitude: Expressing thanks for the blessings in your life, both big and small.
Compassion: Cultivating empathy and praying for the well-being of others.
Healing: Seeking restoration and healing for yourself, others, or a specific situation.
Community Well-being: Praying for your local community, its residents, and their needs.
2. Select Relevant Scriptures
Once you've identified your intention, search your sacred texts for verses or passages that align with your chosen theme. These scriptures will serve as guiding lights during your prayer walk, grounding your thoughts and prayers in the teachings of your faith. For instance:
Gratitude: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." – Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
Compassion: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." – Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Healing: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." – Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
Community Well-being: "Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." – Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)
3. Incorporate acts of kindness
Infusing your prayer walks with acts of kindness and goodwill can create a beautiful ripple effect of positivity in your community. By offering simple gestures of love and care, you not only uplift others but also deepen your own spiritual experience. Some ideas include:
Flower sharing: Carry a bouquet of flowers and leave single stems with heartfelt notes in public spaces, such as park benches or community boards.
Inspirational notes: Prepare small notes with encouraging quotes, affirmations, or uplifting messages. Leave them in places where they can be easily discovered.
Acts of kindness to animals: Incorporating acts of kindness toward animals into your prayer walks is a beautiful way to extend your compassion and care to all living beings. Just as humans benefit from gestures of goodwill, animals too can experience the warmth of your intentions. You could bring a small bag of birdseed with you during your walk and feed birds you encounter. Where I live there are a lot of stray cats so I often take some cat food with me. You could place small containers of fresh water in spots where animals are likely to visit. During hot or dry weather, a source of clean water can be a lifesaver for birds, squirrels, and other critters.
Litter Cleanup: As you go, pick up any litter or debris you come across, not only to enhance the environment but also to ensure the safety of animals that might encounter harmful materials. A friend of mine was unemployed for a short while. One day he went to his local park with a large bag and picked up all the litter. A day later he was offered a job. The timing might have been a coincidence, but he is now a firm believer in giving before receiving.
Taking Prayer Walks Beyond Your Feet
1. Virtual Prayer Walking
In a world that is increasingly connected through technology, you can extend your prayer walks beyond physical spaces to virtual landscapes. Use a regular map, glide your finger along a road until you come to a place you like, and dedicate a prayer to that place. Or go to Google Maps street view, and scroll along finding places you can pray for. Virtual prayer walks offer a unique way to engage with different locations around the world, allowing you to pray for the well-being of those places and their inhabitants. Great for a rainy day.
2. Prayer Driving
Why not extend the practice of prayer walking to riding a bicycle or driving? On your daily commute you can pray for the safety of fellow drivers, pedestrians, and the communities you pass through. In Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh writes:
“While we are driving, we think only about arriving. Therefore, every time we see a red light, we are not very happy. The red light is a kind of enemy that prevents us from attaining our goal. But we can also see the red light as a bell of mindfulness, reminding us to return to the present moment. The next time you see a red light, please smile at it ... (the red light) becomes a friend, helping us remember that it is only in the present moment that we can live our lives.”
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a psychology degree from Nelson Mandela University and a diploma from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond.