Prayer Walks

The idea came to life on a mountain in northern Idaho. Dad’s high blood pressure meant he either took prescribed drugs or exercised.  He chose the latter.  So, five days a week he hikes trails and roads that at points are ridiculously steep but altogether invigorating!  One day while walking the Lord whispered that instead of just walking he might also pray! 
 
Meditation
Matthew 18:19,20—Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them. 
​

What began in Idaho spread to India.  Dad awoke early each morning and walked around a nearby field to pray.  He invited men from Cochin to join him.  In groups of three they walked and interceded.  The man in the middle prayed (so each person could hear) for a minute or two and then moved to the side to be replaced by another prayer warrior. As more people came to pray, new lines formed and then shifted in composition so that men could pray with different men but always in little groups of two or three.  

What occurs in India now flourishes in Kenya. By our last day in Eldoret there were 20 of us (seven ranks), striding for an hour. Afterwards, Dad led everyone in a discipleship lesson in the hotel café—each person eating breakfast and learning. Joseph wrote us to share that already there are two groups walking each morning.  Beginning at his church, he leads a group and not far away, in the large field next to the Nyathiru Motel we stayed in, Francis walks with others engaged in the same exercise. In the capital city of Nairobi, Pastor Cleopa leads yet another team walking and praying.  Soon Jerry will have bands walking in Nigeria and Andre will do the same in Benin!  In March, Lord-willing, Zambians will be trained to walk and pray and Africa will not be the same!

Whenever our First Cause Disciple Making team enters a new land we will initiate and model prayer walks.  The idea is to establish a habit that will endure after we leave.  The results are immediate and gratifying.  God delights in answering prayer!  He promises that where we are gathered together in His name, He walks with us!  Prayer walks keep us focused on our objective—raising up godly disciple makers.  And because each person has different thoughts, many topics and needs are brought before the Lord as well as praise, adoration and confession.   We are mutually encouraged as we lift our hearts to heaven.  We grow more sensitive to the needs around us.  We find our bonds of love are strengthened.  We put the enemy to flight and build faith in the process.  The community is encouraged by our example.  Even our bodies are strengthened physically by exercising.  
​
The key to effective disciple making begins, continues and extends through prayer.  The next time you wake up, consider that bands of prayer warriors are walking and talking to God and perhaps your life is blessed as a result.  Better yet, why not encourage others to join you in the same exercise.  You won’t regret it and who knows what God might do in your area . . . something to think about . . . in reveration!  
 
Inspiration
Every time we pray our horizons are altered, our attitudes to things are altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don’t pray more.  Prayer is a complete emancipation; it keeps us on the spiritual plane.—Oswald Chambers in The Place of Help 
 
©2007 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)