Prayer Walking
Prayer walking is a simple yet potent practice that can ignite your prayer life and deepen your connection with God by walking into your city and partnering with Him. Walking helps us to see the parts of the city where God’s work is needed. It can be a strategic time going out two by two, devoted to discovering people of peace (those who want to tell others what they learn about God). God is already working to open the hearts of people and we must pray for the spiritual sight to see where he is already preparing disciples for His Kingdom. By following these steps and adopting a curious and compassionate mindset, you can become a prayer walker who seeks to fulfill God's will and make a positive impact in your community. Prayer walking may also lead to spiritual conversations or an opportunity to offer blessing prayer with those you encounter. Remember, as you prayer walk, you are stepping into Jesus's domain, so walk where He would walk and pray what He would pray, with boundless compassion for your city. Open your eyes to the ripe harvest fields around you.
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”" - Matthew 9:35-38
Listen
There are three things that every disciple must do when prayer walking to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal opportunities:
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Listen.
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Listen.
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Listen.
Prayer walking is most effective in outreach when you know your context and to whom you're called, but it can also be used to discern what your target context should be, just like the apostle Paul surveying the city of Athens in Acts 17, before using his observations about the local idol worship to reason with the people. Think about it like doing Biblical exegesis where you live, work, learn, and play. Consider:
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Who are the people in your community? (demographics)
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What is their situation like? (gifting and needs)
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When has significant change occurred? (history)
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Where do people in your community connect and interact? (key places)
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Why do people do what they do? (culture, values, beliefs)
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How is this community impacted by social, economic, and political issues? (social context)
Who do you know of who has encountered an Access or Passion Ministry (food distribution, etc.)?
They are especially welcoming, because they have already seen tangible Kingdom acts.
Do you know of any P.I.P.S.Y. spaces?
P.I.P.S.Y. stands for the Poor, Internationals, Prisoners, the Sick & Students, and Your people (family, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, colleagues, classmates, and everyone else you already know). Jesus spent most of his time serving these marginalized communities.
Where is God's Kingdom not, and how can you bring it there? Where is God already working and how can you join Him? If Jesus were in this space, how would he pray and engage?
Remember, God has already done the work of preparing hearts and drawing others to Himself [John 6:44, Proverbs 21:1]. Your part is finding where God is already working.
"Prayer always precedes movement. Prayer is not about discovering the strategy, it is the strategy."
Ask God to bless people who live or work in your neighborhood or target area. Pray about anything that is not consistent with the way it should be—the way things will be when God’s Kingdom comes:
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jobs and other needs of the poor
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comfort for those who are suffering and grieving
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safety for the neighborhood
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love and protection for the children
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people learning of the God who loves and protects them
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to heal damaged relationships
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to break chains of oppression and addictions
Prayer Walking Steps
Need some tips on how to be missional in your prayer walking? Here are seven basic steps to help you get started on this transformative journey.
1. Joining with Others
Prayer walking is more enjoyable and effective when done in pairs or small groups. Joining with fellow believers not only offers encouragement but also makes your prayers more conversational and dynamic. Express your vision to others and share why you want to pray for this part of the city. Look for those who are drawn to your vision and invite them to join you. Prayer walking is better together. However, one is far better than none.
2. Setting Aside Time
Allocate at least an hour or two for prayer walking. This extended period allows you to dive deep into prayer, especially when you're exploring specific Bible verses or praying with a partner.
3. Choosing the Right Area
Select an area to prayer walk where you sense God's guidance. Spend a few minutes to pray together for protection and divine appointments before you begin. Be observant about the people and places you pass, and reflect on those who work and live there. It can be an unfamiliar neighborhood, areas around your church, or even a panoramic view of your city. Focus on places where people naturally live, work, and play. Ask God to direct where you walk and show you the needs of this place. You could enter shops, greet people and workers, ask and listen for community needs, and reflect on how God is working there.
4. Keeping the Focus on God
Make God's promises the centerpiece of your prayers, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts or spiritual warfare. Be filled with joy in the Holy Spirit and concentrate on the fruits of the Spirit. Be open to evangelism, but don't let it sideline simply experiencing God's presence.
5. Praying with Insight
Pray for the people and places you encounter during your walk. Let God calibrate your heart to His, so you're moved by the things that concern Him. Don't hesitate to incorporate scripture into your prayers. Jesus told His disciples to offer a blessing (peace), when they enter a house (Luke 10:5). Tell people that you are praying for God to bless them and meet their needs. Ask if they have any needs that you can pray for.
6. Coordinating Efforts
Mobilize more prayer warriors by inviting others to join you in prayer walking. Divide into walking groups of two or three if you have a larger prayer team. Act naturally. When you keep your eyes open and walk as you pray out loud, you appear to be simply talking with each other. Utilize tools like GPS maps to cover more ground and recruit people for this essential work of disciple making.
7. Regathering and Reporting
After your prayer walk, come together with your partners to share your experiences and insights. This time of reflection allows you to encourage each other and plan for future prayer walks. Spend a few minutes thanking God for working in this area and for what He revealed to you. Discuss whatever God revealed to you and what you observed. Write it down so you remember to pray about it next time. Pick the next date to prayer walk again to establish a regular rhythm. Help each other become persistent in prayer as you join with God in preparing hearts to receive Him.
8. Follow up & Spiritual Conversations
Follow up with those who have been helped by an Access ministry or your previous blessing prayer. Simply ask if they have been blessed by the Access ministry. This could be as simple as you mowing their lawn previously or sharing some home baked goods. This often opens the door to a Gospel conversation.
What if you aren't following up? Approach individuals, assuming their interest in prayer, and asking if they'd like to pray together. This is a simple and non-threatening approach that statistically most people are open to.
Consider using the following approach:
"Hi I'm ______________, and this is ________________. We are just on a walk blessing our neighborhood, and stopped by to see how we might encourage others. Is there any way we could serve you?"
After serving or if they have no answer, offer prayer.
"If God could do one miracle in your life what would it be?"
After prayer for their situation, ask to share a story and follow up with those who want to learn more about discovering what God has to say about life. Consider using a story from a DBS passage. After sharing the story, ask, "What does this say about God?", "What does this say about people?", and "Do you know anyone who would be encouraged to hear this story from you?". If this is a person of peace you may go on to disciple them to facilitate their own discovery group.
*See our Gospel Conversations resource for more scripts and questions to use in follow up.
"You find God when you walk down your neighborhood street"