I love to walk, but there are days when it’s all about getting the steps in and not about connecting with God. Yesterday, I realized that there are ugly truths and beautiful gifts in prayer walking. Contemplative prayer walking is part of a lifestyle of prayer. Yet even in this sacred act, the practice can bring both grace and struggle. Some days it’s humbling and uncomfortable. Yet through it all, the Holy Spirit dwells in His temple.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? 1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
Here are three “ugly truths” and three beautiful gifts of Contemplative prayer walking.
Three “Ugly Truths”
1. We Discover How Distracted and Self-Focused We Really Are
When we walk in silence, meaning without music, podcasts, or even words, the noise of our thoughts becomes unmistakable. We may find ourselves reliving worries, growing grudges, or completing to-do lists instead of contemplating His presence. But that discomfort is the Holy Spirit inside of us revealing what’s been there all along and inviting us into deeper surrender.
2. We May Feel God’s Absence Before We Sense His Nearness
Sometimes we experience a distressing dryness or distance, as if God isn’t responding. This serves to purify our motives: Are we walking for personal gain, or for intimacy with Him? In that heavy silence, trust has room to deepen. We learn to walk by faith, not by feelings.
3. It Challenges Our Sense of Comfort and Control
True contemplative prayer walking isn’t about accomplishing anything. Seriously. There’s no checklist, no productivity, and no need to measure the result. That is the opposite of our culture’s addiction to busyness, even in ministry. Letting go of control to simply be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) is harder than it sounds. Which is precisely why it transforms us.
Three Beautiful Gifts
1. We Learn to Abide in God’s Presence
With each time we practice, walking becomes a living conversation with the Lord. This kind of prayer is less about speaking and more about dwelling in Him.
2. Our Body, Soul, and Spirit Come Into Alignment
Prayer walking is an activity in which our whole being participates. The movement of our feet mirrors our journey of faith. It’s not a performance, but a pilgrimage. God is not just in our prayers; He is also in our steps.
3. We Begin to See the World Through God’s Eyes
As we walk and pray, people, pets, homes, and streets become sacred reminders of God’s presence. We may start to see our neighborhood as a mission field and outside itself as a sanctuary.
For those who are ready to experience the Ugly Truths and Beautiful Gifts of contemplative prayer walking, start small.
- Fifteen minutes on a familiar path can open your heart in unexpected ways.
- Remember: the goal isn’t distance; it’s abiding in His presence
- Take mental notes of the ugly truths and beautiful gifts along the way.
As we walk, may we ask Jesus to walk with us. Notice what He reveals. Click here for this week’s screensaver.