For this walk, don’t plan your route beforehand. We are going to go on an adventure following the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we pray for God to move locally, nationally, and in Europe today. Our scriptures today will show us that Jesus has given us his presence, authority, and power to be his witnesses no matter where we go.
Today’s scriptures:
- Matthew 28:16-20
- Acts 1:8
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
- A pen or marker
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 section of P.R.A.Y., however, you are encouraged to let the Spirit lead your timing.
PAUSE
5-10 minutes
↔️ With your walking partner, begin somewhere there is an intersection.
💬 Once you arrive, pause for each person to say 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.
📖 Next, read this scripture passage where Jesus appears to his disciples for the first time after his resurrection:
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
👂 Ask the Holy Spirit which direction you should go. Take some time to listen silently and then share with your walking partner whatever comes to mind. Decide together which way to begin, stay alert to the whisper of the Holy Spirit and see where God leads you throughout the walk.
👣 Begin walking. Pause as needed whenever you need to read something.
REJOICE
5-10 minutes
Later in today’s walk, you will intercede for your city, your nation and Europe, but first, you will spend time in gratitude and worship.
When the disciples saw Jesus in Matthew 28, he had just risen from the dead after giving his life. At this moment, Jesus does not have to say anything to the disciples. He was simply with them and they were grateful and worshiped him.
💬 If Jesus was standing in your path now, what is something you could thank and worship him for now because of who he is and what he has done for you? Take turns praying aloud.
🎵 Listen and rejoice along with the song “King of Kings” by Hillsong.
Listen on Spotify (English, Espagnol, Français) | Watch on YouTube (English, Espagnol, Français)
REFLECT
Approximately 10 minutes
💬 Share with your walking partner which of the disciples you feel like today: Were you ready to worship straight away or are you in a place of doubt?
Jesus was literally present with his disciples and they still doubted. If Jesus can handle his closest friends doubting him after all they had seen and experienced with him, then he can handle your doubt!
💬 Invite Jesus into the doubts you have (about God, a particular situation, the future, revival in Europe). Take turns praying about your doubts with your walking partner.
Even with the disciples’ doubts, Jesus passed on his authority to them. He entrusted his disciples and he entrusts us today with the challenge to multiply his kingdom.
💬 Take time now to acknowledge before Jesus how you feel about taking on this responsibility and the right to lead in the kingdom of God. For example, if you feel a sense of ungodly pride or power when it comes to having authority in God’s kingdom, confess that to God. If you feel intimidated by this Great Commission, remind yourself that God’s power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).
💬 No matter how you feel about taking on authority in Christ, show Jesus that you are willing to respond by saying aloud, “Therefore I will go.”
🗣️ After you each have shared, declare Jesus’s promise over your walking partner that “surely Jesus is with you always, to the very end of the age.”
ASK
At least 15 minutes.
Read the passage below in which Jesus addresses and commands His disciples just before He returns to His Father in heaven.
📖 Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8
It’s interesting that Jesus’s disciples needed a reminder of their task again before Jesus ascended to heaven. Even though they had received authority from Jesus earlier, they needed the power and resources to fulfill his command.
The disciples had to wait until Pentecost to receive the Holy Spirit’s power, but we can ask for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit’s power right now to be witnesses across Europe.
LOCAL
🎯 Draw a small circle on the back of your hand and ask the Holy Spirit, “Give me the power to be your witness in my Jerusalem.”
👂 Pause your walk to ask the Holy Spirit how you can be a witness where you are right now: Where does the Spirit want you to go? Is there a particular person God wants you to notice? What does the Spirit want you to do or say when you find them? For example, asking this person how you can pray for them today, buying them a coffee, carrying their groceries, or sharing a specific encouraging word with them.
👣 Begin walking again based on any sense of direction you just received. Allow the Holy Spirit to set the pace of this portion of your walk; do not feel pressure to move on to the next step too quickly.
✍️ After you’ve been a witness in some way, draw a heart inside the small circle as a reminder to pray for this person again later.
NATIONAL
🎯 Draw a medium circle around the first circle and ask the Holy Spirit, “Give me the power to be your witness in my Judea and Samaria.”
👂 Ask the Holy Spirit what other university or city in your country you can pray for now. Once a university or city comes to mind, ask the Holy Spirit what is one way to pray for God to bring restoration and renewal there today.
💬 Take turns praying aloud for these places.
✍️ Write the name of the university or city inside the medium circle as a reminder to pray again later.
EUROPE
🎯 Draw a larger circle around the first two circles and ask the Holy Spirit, “Give me the power to be your witness to the ends of the earth.”
👂 Ask the Holy Spirit what other country in Europe you can pray for now. Once a country comes to mind, ask the Holy Spirit what is one way to pray for God to bring restoration and renewal in that country today.
💬 Take turns praying aloud for these countries.
✍️ Write the name of the country inside the large circle as a reminder to pray again later.
YIELD
1-2 minutes
As your walk comes to a close, remind yourself that Jesus is with you to the very end of the age as you seek to fulfill his Great Commission. We have his authority and power, and we are not alone!
👐 Look at the drawing on your hand and tell the Lord you want to take the Great Commission seriously. Humbly invite God to help you be a witness in your everyday life by saying, “I choose to surrender my time, talents, possessions, and more to advancing your kingdom in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
YES
Approximately 5 minutes
👂 Take a moment of silence to see if God has anything else he would like you to know about being a witness today. Is there a next step that God would like you to take? If so, share it with your walking partner and take a literal step forward to embody your “yes” to God.
NEXT STEPS
🏷️ Post a photo of the circles on your hand to Instagram (or Facebook) and tag @thespark.europe and #thesparkwalk2. In your caption or in a story, share your prayer for what the circles mean to you.
👍 Follow @thespark.europe and look at #thesparkwalk2 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
