Prayer-walking

Prayer-walking involves taking our prayers to the very places where we desire to see God’s presence manifested and our prayers answered. Prayer-walking is the powerful dynamic of praying on-site with God's sight.

Prayer-walking uses the sights, sounds, even smells to engage both body and mind in the ministry of prayer.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

Joshua and Caleb walked throughout the Promised Land with a desire to see it as God saw it. They walked in godly vision. In identifying enemy powers, do so in the context of the vastly superior power of God. We need to be aware of the enemy BUT in awe of God – seeing things as they really are not as they appear to be (II Corinthians 4:18). There were giants in the land and cities with great walls, but Joshua and Caleb believed that “(God) will lead us into that land ... we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us.” (Numbers 14: 8b, 9b)

In Nehemiah we see a person with a God-given burden and a sensitive heart. Before Nehemiah ever set foot in Jerusalem, the Scripture tells us he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for the city (Nehemiah 1:4). When he finally arrived, his eyes saw the rubble, the burned city gates, as had others before him. However, when a person with a God-given burden and a God-sensitive heart saw them, things changed!

ATTITUDES OF PRAYER-WALKING

First of all, realize that we prayer-walk before the throne in an attitude of worship. Exalting Jesus, magnifying God from the very place(s) where we stand.

Worship fosters faith inside us because worship focuses on the character of God. Three elements that should be a part of our prayer-walking worship experience are, (1) thanksgiving, (2) praise and worship, and (3) repentance. Thanksgiving is how the psalmist says we are to enter God’s presence (Psalm 100:1). When we exalt in our Lord and lift Him up, Jesus is lifted up (John 12:32). Demons tremble at His name! (James 2:19)

Like Isaiah, as we truly see God for who He is, our response is one of unworthiness, a broken and contrite heart before God. God will not turn away from a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). We cannot repent for others, but Daniel and many others expressed a humble attitude of repentance before God on behalf of the people (Daniel 9:2-19).

Second, we prayer-walk amidst the evil powers with prayers of warfare. All people belong to the kingdom of Satan until God sets them free. We need to understand that the enemy has blinded the minds of people, so they are not able to see the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Jesus is the light of the world and has defeated Satan. (I John 3:8)

Third, we prayer-walk throughout the community of people with prayers of blessing. We can pray blessings of peace upon families, dorms, offices, etc. We can pray prayers that welcome Jesus to our campus/city in all His love, forgiveness, healing and cleansing. We can pray that God would be honored, adored, lifted up, revealed and praised by name among the people of the community.

Pastor Jack Hayford prayed this prayer of blessing for Los Angeles: “Now Lord, we are the seed of Abraham and we speak blessing upon the people of this community. Let your salvation, healing, deliverance and reconciliation settle over this community.”

Taken from Cru website