What is prayer walking? One definition I read defines prayer walking as “walking with the purpose of praying for others and for a specific activity; walking with a missional purpose.” During our Summer Experience in July, several volunteers from our Prayer Team prayer walked around our neighborhoods. They prayed for families as they passed by and prayed specifically for families participating in our Summer Experience if they saw a window cling that was provided to display. I remember receiving a picture of one of our families when the Prayer Team was in their neighborhood. What a blessing to know our families were being prayed for as they engaged in the Bible stories and activities at home.
Brad recently asked our Prayer Ministry to have people on every school campus in Hanover to prayer walk over the school, administration, teachers, and students. Several members of my life group took this challenge and prayer walked at a local elementary school. It was a powerful experience. Because several involved knew the layout of the school, we could be very intentional in our prayers. We prayed at the bus loop for the new transportation plan and outside the office windows for the administration team. We prayed for staff and students at each grade level, the clinic and staff, the resource team and the playground. Each location presented a meaningful time to meet with God about activities and people in that specific location of the school. Our time together focused us on God. As we prayed for others, we also found a sense of peace for ourselves.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul reminded the people of Philippi about the importance of prayer – presenting requests to God with thanksgiving. He then focused on the peace of God. I love the imagery that is portrayed here. The peace of God surpasses our understanding when we come to Him with our prayers and petitions. We probably have a lot that we can be anxious about right now but as we present our requests to God, He will give us peace that surpasses all understanding.
Our life group’s prayer walking focused on the community in that elementary school but as we prayed, God did amazing work in us, too. I received several texts following our time together.
“It was great and ended a stressful day positively.”
“I know I needed that, and it put me in a better frame of mind.”
I hope our life group will continue to make prayer walking at this elementary school a part of our meeting together as we walk with a missional purpose - for those in the community and for each other. Please consider prayer walking in your neighborhood or on your local school campus this week.
