A prayer walk is a powerful way for believers to step out in faith and cover the communities and neighborhoods in powerful, specific, and strategic prayer. It’s a powerful strategy that you can implement in your prayer life to help build a vibrant prayer life and reach out to your community.
How powerful would it be that every place you went to, every spot your feet touched, every chair you sat in was prayed over? How powerful would it be that every street in our cities, every house in our neighborhoods were covered in prayer? That is the vision for prayer walking, to fill the world with prayer. Instead of sitting in our homes, it’s Christians stepping out in faith and being the change we long to see.
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How To Start A Prayer Walk
Prayer walking is becoming more and more popular, but what exactly is a prayer walk and why is it so important? Those are some great questions that we want to dive into so you can decide if you want to add this strategy to your prayer life.
The beauty of a prayer walk is that it can look different to each person, it’s flexible and can be molded into a system that works for you. But before we jump into how to start a prayer walk, let’s talk about just what it is.
What Is A Prayer Walk?
A prayer walk is pretty simple, that brings together two wonderful things -walking and praying-. A prayer walk is just being intentional about exercising and your prayer time so that you can cover your community in prayer. Interceding on behalf of their neighborhoods.
Often these can be for a specific result, or answer to prayer. For many, a prayer walk is as simple as grabbing the leash and taking your dogs for a walk, or putting the kiddos in a stroller and praying for each family living in the house you pass.
I know amazing ladies that choose a new neighborhood to prayer walk through weekly so that they have the opportunity to cover different communities in prayer. Others will walk around their house of worship, or government buildings to lift up our leaders. How you implement a prayer walk, and what it looks like is really up to you. The most important part is that you are praying.
Why A Prayer Walk Is Important?
It isn’t the walking that is important, but I’ve found that the rhythm of walking helps to keep me focused while I am praying. Another great benefit of prayer walking is that I can pray over each family in my neighborhood even if I don’t know their names.
What Do You Need To Do A Prayer Walk?
A prayer walk is super simple all you need is you, and maybe a pair of shoes. But some other things you may want to bring along include:
- Verses to pray
- A prayer journal to write down anything God lays on your heart or answers to prayer
- A prayer request list with specific needs
- Something to listen to worship music on
- Something to drink
How Do You Organize A Prayer Walk?
If you don’t want to do a prayer walk alone reach out to some friends and plan a specific place to meet up. Your house, a church, a coffee shop. Make it somewhere everyone can find easily.
The next step to organizing a prayer walk is to decide where you are going to be walking. The length of your walk doesn’t matter, don’t get bogged down in this. If you aren’t up to walking far, do only what you are comfortable with. It’s better you prayer for 5 minutes, then not at all.
When you get your fellow prayer walkers together make sure you explain the route you’ll be taking, what you are doing, and the expectation. Now get walking, and praying. You can pray aloud, or silently. You can walk alone or in a group. You can carry your Bible if you feel called to or just walk.
How Do You Pray?
Maybe you really want to give this prayer walk thing a try but you just aren’t confident in praying or you feel like you don’t know how to pray. Can I share something with you? You don’t need to be an expert at prayer, I think some of the most powerful prayers come out of a broken soul where all you can whisper is Jesus. Speak from your heart, it doesn’t need to be eloquent. You don’t need to know fancy words, just come to your father, approach the throne, and pour out your heart.
- Start with thanksgiving, thank Him for what He has done and is doing.
- Affirm God’s word, by praying verses.
- Bring your needs and prayer requests to Him.
- Remember this isn’t just a laundry list of needs or a rigid tradition- it’s a conversation. No need is too big or too small or insignificant.
What To Pray For On Your Prayer Walk
Now that you know how to pray let’s talk about what to pray while you are praying over your neighborhood
Pray for:
- Provision.
- Health.
- Safety.
- Guidance.
- Protection.
- For the raising of their children and or grandchildren.
- If they don’t know Him that they will come to know Him.
- For guidance.
- Pick a verse to pray over your neighborhood as you walk.
Verses To Pray On Your Prayer Walk
Here are some wonderful Bible verses that you can include in your prayers as you prayer walk. You can use these by placing your name or someone else’s inside them and tailoring them your prayers. Or simply just repeat them to the Lord.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:2-3 NIV
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” Psalm 33:12 NLT
Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:20-21 NIV
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10 NIV
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” Proverbs 14:34
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your [nation] and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:19
Resources To Help You With Your Prayer Walks
Here are some great resources to get a jump-start on your prayer life:
- Our Prayer Walking Guide (complete with verses to print and take with you on your walk)
- How To Pray For Our Country
- How To Start A Prayer Journal
- Another great resource from As He Leads Is Joy is her prayer journal and strategy
- How To Become A Strong Prayer Warrior
- 5 Simple Tips For An Effective Prayer Routine
- How To Fast and Pray
- How To Pray For Missionaries
- The Beginners Guide To Fast & Pray
- How To Pray For Teens
- What Jesus Taught Us about Prayer
- Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer
- Downpour: Learning From Life’s Storms
- The Daniel Prayer: Prayer That Moves Heaven and Changes Nations
- The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies
Prayer Walk Ideas
Gather your family and walk through your neighborhood praying for each family that lives there- this is a great time to teach the kiddos about the importance of prayer in your daily life by putting it into action.
Get your small group from church together to walk around your city, or church and pray for the leadership, first responders, and elected official.
Prayer walk around your schools and universities, neighborhoods, workplace, government centers, parks, shops, and malls, and outlook with a view of your city, a hiking trail, churches, or places of historical significance. The location isn’t as important as the fact that you are praying. Some of my favorite places to prayer walk are on a hiking trail where my phone doesn’t have reception and there are fewer distractions. Go where God leads you.
How To Do A Prayer Walk When You Can’t Walk
Yeah, prayer walks sound wonderful, but what if I’m not up to walking or I live in a place where walking just isn’t doable. Get in the car, pick a street, drive down it, and pray. Or if that isn’t an option pray from your home. The idea is to cover your community in prayer.
Starting A Prayer Walk
The world is hurting and it’s more important that we as Christians come to our Lord in prayer. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 That if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (ESV). It doesn’t say if the world humbles themself it says my people, who are called by my name therefore this begins with us.
Before you head out walking remember to repent from your sins, take care of your own household- put your spiritual armor on, and then hit the streets and cover your community in prayer.
Before you step out the door to go on your prayer walk:
- Repent of your sins and ask for forgiveness.
- Pray that you will be sensitive to the work God is doing and where He is leading.
- Pray for spiritual eyes so that you can be strategic in your prayers.
- Pray that He will give you “God moments” and open the doors for you to share.
Now you are ready to cover your community in prayer:
- Pray for your neighbors
- Pray for your family
- Pray for your friends
- Pray for your school board
- Pray for your church
- Pray for your community
- Pray for your city
- Pray for your local first responders
- Pray for your county
- Pray for your state
- Pray for your nation
- Pray for your leaders & elected officials
Are you going to start a prayer walk in your neighborhood? Let us know below!
Before you go, check these out!
- When Your Prayers Hit The Ceiling
- Keeping The Faith When Life Is Hard
- Finding Peace In Chaos | 3 Powerful Ways To Find Peace In The Midst Of The Storm
- God In The Storm – 6 Powerful Ways To Trust God When The Flood Waters Rise
- Holding On To God When Life Brings Us To Our Knees
- Trust God Even When The Bottom Falls Out Again
Prayer is critical in the life of a Christian! It is more critical if our nation is ever to heal and draw near to God. I love that you are inspiring others to begin a prayer walk! Let’s do this!
It really is. It is more important now than ever. We are so glad to have you with us!
I’m organizing a prayer walk around our courthouse. This is an amazing resource to share. Thank you!
Thank you
Preparing to start a ministry in our church and to do weekly prayer walks around our campus. Thank you for the information on how to start a prayer walk. The most important one you noted is the one about ourselves. “Before you head out walking remember to repent from your sins, take care of your own household – put your spiritual armor on and then hit the streets and cover your community in prayer.” Thank you!