By Allan Swinson

Introduction

Human beings are typically creatures of habit. Many of our habits are conditioned by our culture, and they’re not always the best habits. Did you know the average American spends almost three hours a day watching TV, over four hours a day on their cell phones, and nearly six hours behind a desk? Prayer can happen anywhere, but sometimes, I just need to take a hike. Okay, not a literal one – hiking isn’t really my thing. But it does help to take a simple prayer walk. 

Walking in Your Neighborhood 

My wife and I like to walk around our neighborhood. There is a great sidewalk path that is just over one mile long. It takes us less than a half hour and we always appreciate the fresh air, the beauty of our surroundings, and saying ‘hi’ to other people walking by. Walking in your neighborhood is a great way to pray! You can pray for your community, for the families in the homes you walk by, and for opportunities to meet new people with whom you can share your story. 

Walking in Your Circle of Influence 

Your circle of influence could be your neighborhood, or it could be the places you work, shop, eat, and play. If you typically buy groceries at the same store or get coffee from the same coffee shop, you could do a prayer walk around those locations. As you walk, pray for the employees, pray for the customers, pray for their families. Pray for opportunities to share your faith, and ask God to send other Christians to those places to be a light, as well. 

Jesus Walked Everywhere

Although Jesus lived in much different times than we live in, He and His disciples walked everywhere. This exposed them to people and it provided opportunities for people to come into contact with them. Think of the slow intentionality that their walking lifestyle would have provided. Contrary to sitting behind a desk all day, Jesus and His disciples were out among the people, where they were needed. Even if your job requires lots of desk time, taking a short prayer walk can do wonders for your soul and the people in your circle of influence. 

Takeaway

Consider doing a prayer walk every now and then. It’s a great habit to form, it’s easy to do, and it’s a powerful tool that can help you connect with God and with the community in which He has placed you.