Prayer-Walking, A Guest Post by Lee Merrill

“…pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV)

Have you ever met someone who wakes up before the roosters to exercise? Yeah, well I’m not one of them. I hate exercise and spent most of my life, thus far, trying to avoid it. Now that I’m in my 40’s, my body refuses to drop much weight unless I pair a healthy eating plan with regular exercise. Walking is one of the few exercises I can do, considering my clumsiness and lack of coordination, so I’m trying to develop the habit of taking evening walks at least three days per week.

To make my evening walks tolerable, I take along a sweet companion: Jesus. Some folks call it prayer walking or praise walking, but I just call it going on “our walks.”

Let me take you on one of our walks to help you understand what I mean.

With the street lights illuminating sidewalks, my walking shoes create a steady rhythm for a praise song. I spend the first several minutes telling the Lord how awed I am by His character and creativity. Nature sings along with my song. Breeze blows through branches filling my nose with the scent of orange blossoms and honeysuckle. Bougainvillea drapes fuchsia over block fences.  Jacaranda trees litter sidewalks with tiny, violet blooms.

After a while, the Lord and I begin to process my day. I confess the sharp words I snapped at my son when he missed the bus again. I hear His prompting to apologize to my son when I get home.

With my son’s face in my mind, I pour out my momma worries and wonderings. I ask the Lord to show me how to love my three sons better. I beg Him to capture their hearts and to show them the way. I thank Him for entrusting my husband and me with such priceless gifts.

My mind shifts to my sweetie sanding his latest woodworking project in the garage. I pray God’s loving protection over his life and our marriage. I pray for his heart to be encouraged after a long, trying day at work. I ask the Lord to give me a deeper, more sacrificial love for my man.

I see young teenagers playing basketball at the park, and my mind wanders to my job as a school teacher. I pray for guidance in how to help Pedro learn to read at age 12. I pray for patience with Bobby who knows how to push my buttons. I plead healing for one co-worker’s broken marriage and another’s husband, who is battling cancer. I ask for opportunities to share Christ in bold and subtle ways.

A woman coasts by on a bicycle. Her blonde hair wisps in front of her eyes as she smiles a hello. She reminds me of my nephew’s soon-to-be bride. I thank God for giving my nephew a godly woman with whom he can share his life. I pray for their upcoming wedding to be beautiful and for their marriage to be even more so.

As I turn the corner on to a busier street, I see a mother with two young kids sitting on a bus stop bench. Her weariness weighs heavy on my heart. I ask God to whisper a love song in her ear to help her feel less alone.

Cars of all kinds zip by blowing their hot hurry in my direction. I pray for my city to be still and know He is God. I hear a siren in the distance and pray protection and provision for all involved in the crisis. I pass a church and ask God to use that body of believers to show His love to our community and beyond. Then I pray for my church, for my pastor, for my children’s Bible teachers, and for my own heart. I thank God for my church family and the privilege of worshiping and serving alongside them.

My legs start to ache from all that walking. My eyes strain for signs of the end of the trail. I thank God for a strong body and a safe neighborhood. I thank God for being with me, always. I thank Him for my neighbors as I pass their homes, one-by-one. I ask Him to meet them in the middle of their deepest needs. I ask Him to show me how to be a better neighbour and friend.

My husband is still sanding away in the garage. He grins at me as I clomp my tired feet through his saw dust. “How was your walk?” he asks.

“Great!” I declare, surprising myself. For someone who hates exercise, I had a great time!

 A Southern magnolia transplanted in the Arizona desert, Lee Merrill (LeeBird) likes to call herself a full-time encourager. Whether she’s teaching junior high kids with special needs at her day job or penning prayer gifts on her blog at night, Lee is all about motivating herself and others to fly!

Her biggest fans are her husband, Cliff, and their three sons, Garrett, Logan, and Jacob. They share a cluttered but happy home with two Shihtzus and a bearded dragon named Charlie.

Get to know Lee by subscribing to her blog at http://prayergifts.net, friending her on FaceBook at http://facebook.com/leebirdmerrill, or following her on Twitter at @LeeBirdFree.

Let’s fly!