NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER WALK
Photo by Ethan Sykes on Unsplash
“Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the LORD, for upon its welfare your own depends.” // Jeremiah 29:7
“Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” // Genesis 13:17
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” // John 1:14 (The Message)
Why Engage It?
In Mark 12, when Jesus says, “love your neighbor as yourself,” we intuitively know that he means more than just the people who live on our street. But he does also mean… to love the people who live on our street! In the Gospels, Christ is made known in Jesus of Nazareth. He came not in the abstract, but in the concrete. Where and when he lived mattered. Where we live matters, because we are not just Christians in our minds and something else to the people on our street. In fact, because Christ is in us, Christ has infiltrated our very own neighborhood.
This practice is really a first step in loving our neighborhood as Jesus would. In an age where we are being conditioned to stay inside, and we have a lifetime’s worth of entertainment on our screens, we have become some of the most isolated people in history. In order to love our neighbors, we have to know our neighborhood well. The simple act of routinely taking a mindful, prayerful walk through your neighborhood can open your eyes to the needs and resources just waiting to be discovered.
How to Practice It
Like all of our practices, it’s not about getting it done quickly and effectively, but about inviting Jesus into this practice. You may find during your walks that you are praying for neighbors by name, praying for the area of the city in which you dwell, or stopping to talk to everyone you pass by. There are many ways to do it, but the important thing is to be intentional as you do it. We would encourage removing distractions like music (even worship music) to be as available and focused on listening as possible. You may be the first person who has ever prayed over those particular houses, apartments, or businesses. Over time, this practice may become second nature to you as you go for walks in your neighborhood, and you will be ready and willing when you come across a neighbor in need.