On this first walk, we will enter into this adventure by praying for the city where you study or live. We will begin by humbling ourselves and seeking God’s perspective about forgiving our sin and healing our land.
Today’s scriptures:
- 2 Chronicles 7:14-16
- 2 Kings 6:15-17
What you will need to bring:
- A walking partner, in person or via phone call
- A phone (or some kind of device) to listen to a song and take a photo
Suggestions for where to walk:
- On a university campus
- In a city centre
On each walk with The Spark, we use P.R.A.Y. to structure our prayer time. See The Spark Guide for more information about this way of praying. There are recommendations for how long to spend in each P.R.A.Y. section, however, you are encouraged to let the Spirit lead your timing.
PAUSE
Approximately 10 minutes
🪑 Find a bench or some other place to sit and enter into physical stillness. Take a moment of silence until you and your walking partner feel your heartbeats slow down or your breathing becomes calm.
💬 Begin by each person saying aloud the following prayer:
As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still, to breathe slowly, to recenter my scattered senses upon the presence of God.*
⏸️ Pause for a moment to do what you have just prayed: be still, breathe, recenter.
🎵 Listen to the song “Be Still” by Loud Harp, based on a meditation by St. Patrick on Psalm 46. Listen on Spotify | Watch on YouTube
As you listen, let the lyrics sink in:
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am
Be still and know
Be still
Be
👣 Begin walking. Pause as needed whenever you need to read something.
REJOICE
5-10 minutes
Later in today’s walk, you will intercede for the place you live. We want to see our continent healed and a change within the body of Christ in Europe. That’s why it’s important that we, too, humble ourselves. We need to put God in his rightful place and recognize that we are only human.
📖 2 Chronicles 7:14-16
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
2 Chronicles 7:14-16
In this passage, God essentially becomes Israel’s housemate in the newly built temple. He promises to stay with the people of Israel so long as they follow his commands. This massive promise still applies to us today.
💬 Reread the passage and thank God aloud for the promises you see him give us there.
💬 As you walk, take turns with your partner naming character traits of what makes God God. For example: “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.” Psalm 103:8
💬 Pray together aloud, “Thank you, God, that you are God and we don’t have to be.”
REFLECT
Approximately 5 minutes
As one way of humbling yourself today, what is one thing or a “wicked way” you can turn away from so that God can be in his rightful place? For example, unhealthy habits, unforgiveness, or idols you’ve put above God. Silently offer this up to God or ask Him for help in letting it go.
↩️ When you’re ready, begin walking in the other direction, symbolically turning from that thing or wicked way.
🗣️ As you walk, declare God’s promise over your walking partner that “God’s eyes and God’s heart will always be with you” (2 Chronicles 7:16b).
ASK
10-15 minutes
In the following passage, Elisha is in the middle of a war against Israel and the city he is in is surrounded by the enemy.
📖 2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17
📸 Take a moment to look around you right now. Use your phone to take a photo of something around you that represents what makes you feel overwhelmed, fearful, or lonely as a Christian today. Share your photo with your walking partner.
👂 God wanted Elisha’s servant to see that God was with them in the form of a heavenly army. Stand still for a second and close your eyes. Ask the Lord, “What shall we do?” about what you each took a picture of. Then, open your eyes and as you walk again, ask God to show you how he is present and bringing victory in these circumstances. How does God want to change your perspective? Walk in silence and receive insight from God.
💬 Are you excited about some part of this new perspective in particular? Do you need to trust him with something that feels impossible? Share with God how that makes you feel.
🎨 Use an app on your phone to draw, type, or add a filter or a sticker on the photo to represent the new perspective God wants you to have about it.
💬 Thank God for how he has shown you he is powerfully present among you and what he will do to heal and revive your land.
YIELD
1-2 minutes
God turned Elisha’s story around in an unusual way after this passage: Elisha feasted with the enemy, and the army stopped raiding the city. We, too, are invited not to despair, but to join a Spirit-filled adventure.
👐 Hold the photo open in your hands and tell the Lord you want to trust him to make this new perspective a reality where you live and study. You might humbly say, “Not my will but yours be done” as it relates to the photo you took.
YES
Approximately 5 minutes
👂 Take a moment of silence to see if God has anything else he would like you to receive today. Is there a next step (even an unusual one) that God would like you to say “yes” to taking? If so, share it with your walking partner and take a literal step forward to embody your “yes” to God.
NEXT STEPS
🏷️ Post your photo to Instagram (or Facebook) and tag @thespark.europe and #thesparkwalk1. In your caption or in a story, share your prayer for God’s perspective to become a reality.
👍 Follow @thespark.europe and look at #thesparkwalk1 to see what others have shared, and pray with them for a move of God in Europe.
🎆 Who is someone you will invite to do the next prayer walk with you? Text them now to find a time and date to prayer walk together.
*Quote taken from the Lectio 365 devotional app by 24-7 Prayer www.24-7prayer.com/lectio365