“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.…” – Luke 18:1 NIV
Most followers of Jesus acknowledge that prayer is essential to our personal walk with Jesus and with God working in our communities. The Prayer Walk is a simple way for believers to engage in this sometimes neglected practice. It is encouraging to pray, knowing that others of different ages and denominations from all over your city are also praying at the same time in the same way. It is the kind of unity God blesses.
You can engage in the Prayer Walk as an individual or in a group. It is also a great family activity; a way for parents to model prayer with their kids in a way that their children can be active as opposed to “sitting still.”
The beauty of the Prayer Walk is that we can pray outside with insight as we walk and take the time to observe the places in front of us. Pay attention to what you see and ask God for wisdom as to how to pray. If walking is too difficult or if the street seems too long, feel free to adapt and drive. The most important thing is to pray.
To help unify our prayers, we are again praying this year along the general themes of BLESSING and BREAKTHROUGH.
Here are some examples/primers for prayer:
Short:
Father, would You BLESS and BREAKTHROUGH in this neighborhood. Cause Your name to be hallowed, Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on this street as it is in heaven.
Extended:
Father, we pray that you would BLESS the homes and places (eg. businesses, parks, schools, etc.) on this street today. BLESS them with the revelation of You that turns us away from sin to a reconciled relationship with You. BLESS each home with relationships of peace. BLESS in health and strength. BLESS with provision and safety. BLESS with protection from all evil and harm.
God, we ask that You would BREAKTHROUGH in this neighborhood. We pray that You would deliver each one from any and every barrier or stronghold that hinders them from knowing You and experiencing Your love. In place of walls of pride and hardness of hearts, we pray for Your humility and tenderness. In place of broken family units, we pray for Your restoration. In place of addiction, may people experience Your deliverance and freedom. In all places of hurt and injustice, BREAKTHROUGH, God, so that they may know Your healing and transformation.
May Your name be lifted high, Your kingdom come and Your will be done here on this street as it is in heaven, for Your honour and glory, forever and ever, Amen!
We’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions, even the obvious ones to make things as clear as possible.
Do I have to wait until May 29th to pray for my street?
You know the answer to this one, right? (We thought we’d get the most obvious one out of the way 😊). By all means, pray now, but let’s be sure to pray each day during the week of focused prayer from Sunday May 29th to Saturday June 4th.
Who is leading the Prayer Walk?
The Prayer Walk has emerged rather organically. It is church-based, interdenominational and pastor-led; open to all Jesus-believing churches, organizations and individuals. This year we are joined by Burnaby and Ridge-Meadows and each city has a team of leaders from different Christian churches of different denominations with a common desire to see God bless and break through in our cities. It started this way in Abbotsford in 2020 and this is how we see the Holy Spirit continue to work among us.
Are others praying for the same street?
Potentially, yes. What a great way for the body of Christ to come together in unity! However, we have limited signups to 3 entries per street until all the streets of our city have been committed to be covered in prayer.
How can I hear about or share what God is doing through this?
We’d love to hear your stories. Send via email to [email protected]. You can also connect on Facebook facebook.com/prayerwalkcanada and Instagram @prayerwalkcanada.
How many streets are there in my city?
Approximately 1280 in Abbotsford.
Do I have to walk my street? What about those long streets?
It’s amazing what you see as you walk through a neighborhood. As you walk, you may also “bump” into people, opening up an opportunity to pray for them. However, God’s response to prayer is not limited to us walking. If you need to pray from home or want to drive along your street because it’s a long one (we didn’t have an easy way to segment longer streets), feel free to do so. The most important thing is that we saturate our city in prayer.
Is there some kind of gathering during the Prayer Walk?
Yes. We will be meeting to celebrate Jesus and pray together on Friday, June 3, 7pm at Northview Community Church. The address is 32040 Downes Road.
Further questions? Email us at [email protected]