Prayerwalking: Seeing the World Through God’s Eyes
Prayer is more than speaking words to God—it is a way of life, a continuous conversation with the One who created us. As we walk with Him daily, our relationship grows deeper, and we begin to see the world from His perspective. One of the most transformative ways to develop this spiritual awareness is through prayerwalking.
Prayerwalking is a simple but powerful practice: praying while walking through a community, interceding for the people, places, and needs around us. It is a way of actively engaging with God, tuning our hearts to His, and asking Him to move in the world around us.
Why Prayerwalking?
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NASB). When we prayerwalk, we are actively seeking the gaps between God’s will and what we see in the world, asking Him to bring His kingdom into those places.
Prayerwalking also helps us:
✔ Develop spiritual awareness—seeing beyond the surface and discerning God’s heart for people and places.
✔ Practice listening to the Holy Spirit—allowing Him to guide our prayers and actions.
✔ Obey the Great Commission—looking for ways to extend conversations and share the Gospel.
✔ Move from prayer as a ritual to prayer as a lifestyle—transforming how we engage with God daily.
How to Prayerwalk
1. Prayerwalking with a Partner
While you can prayerwalk alone, it is best done with a partner. When two people prayerwalk together:
There is a three-way conversation between you, your friend, and the Lord.
Your prayers build on one another, leading to insights and directions neither of you might have discovered alone.
It strengthens spiritual unity and encouragement (Matthew 18:20).
2. Four Ways to Determine What to Pray
As you walk, there are four primary ways to guide your prayers:
🔍 Observation
Pray based on what you see, hear, or sense in the environment.
A tricycle in a yard may prompt you to pray for children and families.
A for sale sign might lead you to pray for people struggling with housing or finances.
A school building could remind you to pray for teachers, students, and their families.
✨ Revelation
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit brings something to your mind that seems unrelated to what you are physically seeing.
A topic, person, or idea may surface in your heart—pray about it! For some people, this happens through seeing pictures in their mind.
This requires spiritual sensitivity, which grows with practice.
📖 Research
If you know specific challenges in a neighborhood or city, you can pray with deeper understanding.
If you have read about high unemployment, crime, or homelessness, ask God to bring change.
Pre-planning and intentionality can make your prayerwalking even more effective.
📜 Scripture-Based Prayer
Choose a passage of Scripture to pray over an area before you begin.
Ask God to lead you to relevant verses as you walk.
Praying God’s Word aligns our hearts with His promises and will.
Praying for People You Encounter
One of the most powerful aspects of prayerwalking is praying for people in real time. When you meet someone, start by asking them if you can pray for them.
If they say yes, begin with their specific request. Then, ask the Lord to guide your prayers using the BLESS acrostic:
B – Body (health) – Pray for healing, strength, and physical well-being.
L – Labor (work) – Pray for their job, studies, or responsibilities.
E – Economics (finances) OR Emotions (morale) – Pray for financial provision and emotional strength.
S – Social (relationships) – Pray for their family, friendships, and connections.
S – Spiritual – Pray for their relationship with God, growth in faith, and spiritual hunger.
Blessed to Be a Blessing:
Always pray that the person will have the means not only to meet their needs but also to bless others.
For example, if praying for their finances, ask God to provide so they can also be financially generous with others in need.
If They Are a Believer… Invite Them to Prayerwalk With You!
If someone you pray for is already a follower of Jesus, invite them to join you.
This equips and motivates them to continue prayerwalking in their own life.
It can lead to new discipleship opportunities and spiritual growth.
If They Are Not Yet a Believer… Look for an Opportunity to Share
After praying, consider extending the conversation:
Share a personal testimony—how God has answered your prayers or changed your life.
Ask if they would like to hear about Jesus and how He transforms lives.
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who will guide you in how and what and when to speak.
Prayerwalking Can Become Prayerliving
With practice, prayerwalking can become a habit—one that transforms how we interact with the world. Over time, it shifts us from just prayerwalking to prayerliving.
This is part of what Paul meant when he wrote:
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NASB)
When prayerwalking becomes part of our daily lives:
✔ We become more aware of God’s presence throughout the day.
✔ We pray spontaneously for people, places, and situations.
✔ We engage in ongoing dialogue with God about what we see.
✔ We live in expectation, looking for how God is at work around us.
A Challenge for You
1️⃣ Plan a prayerwalk this week.
Choose a neighborhood, school, or workplace to walk through.
Invite a friend or family member to join you.
2️⃣ Use one or more of the four ways to decide what to pray (Observation, Revelation, Research, or Scripture). Observation and Revelation are the most commonly used.
3️⃣ Be ready to pray for someone you meet.
Ask if you can pray for them.
Use the BLESS framework to guide your prayers.
4️⃣ Journal what God shows you.
Reflect on how He led your prayers and spoke to you.
Consider making prayerwalking a regular habit.
Seeing the World as God Sees It
Prayerwalking is more than a spiritual exercise—it is a way of engaging with God’s heart for the world. When we walk through a community with spiritual eyes open, we begin to see people as He sees them.
Jesus walked through towns and villages, teaching, healing, and praying. He saw beyond the surface into people's deep needs, and he invites us to do the same.
Will you step out and begin to prayerwalk with Jesus? It may just change how you see the world forever.