On this walk, we are going to align our hearts and actions with God’s desire to rebuild what is broken in the cities and towns where we live.
Today’s scriptures:
- Psalm 23
- Luke 10:1-11
What you will need to bring:
- A walking partner, in person or via phone call
- A phone (or some kind of device) to take a photo
Suggestions for where to walk:
- On the edge of your city or town
- The old city centre
- By an old church
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
💬 Take turns 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. With your walking partner, stop to sit or stand where you are and take time to engage your five senses.
👀 First, notice five things that you can see, look for things that you typically might not notice.
👂 Now, notice four things that you can hear.
🖐️ Identify three sensations in your body.
👃 Take note of two distinct scents that you can smell.
😋 Finally, can you distinguish a taste in your mouth?
Notice how you feel now, and give thanks to God for creating the body you walk and pray with today.
👣 Begin walking again. Pause as needed whenever you need to read something.
REJOICE
Approximately 5 minutes
Later in today’s walk, you will intercede for what is broken or in ruins where you live and walk, as we pursue restoration across Europe. Read these next verses and notice how the psalmist David calls upon God’s character as a safe, strong place to which we can come.
📖 Psalm 62:5-8
Psalm 62:5-8
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
💬 Respond to these verses with gratitude and rejoicing. Take turns praying aloud.
REFLECT
5-10 minutes
The Israelites’ land had been unjustly taken over and destroyed, and they had lived in exile for years and recently returned to Jerusalem. While in Susa, Nehemiah receives news from them that Jerusalem’s walls and gates lay in ruins.
📖 Nehemiah 1:3-4
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:3-4
👀 Look around as you walk. Notice what is “broken down” around you literally or spiritually. For example, are there signs of injustice? Signs of people in trouble or disgrace?
💬 Take turns telling God and each other what you see that makes you sad.
💔 Nehemiah’s sadness was so visible that even his boss, the king of Persia, noticed: “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” (chapter 2 verse 2). Allow yourself to feel any sadness by taking two minutes of silence as you walk.
🗣️ Declare the psalmist’s words from Psalm 62:8 for your city: “Trust in him at all times, you people [of CITY]; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
ASK
10-15 minutes
Nehemiah wants to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls as a first step to restore the city of God’s people. In order to do this, he knows he will need God to give him success, as well as receiving favor from humans in power.
📖 Nehemiah 2:4-8
The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”
Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.
Nehemiah 2:4-8
💬 AUTHORITIES: God gave Nehemiah the favor of the king of Persia. What kind of authorities could help practically and/or spiritually rebuild what is “broken down” around you? Who can set right the injustices? Who can reach people in trouble or disgrace? Pray for these people, systems, and institutions.
💬 WRONGDOERS: Pray for the people causing this injustice, trouble, or disgrace that you see around you. Ask the Spirit to reveal if you, too, have knowingly or unknowingly played a part in it; repent of anything that comes to mind.
💬 PRACTICAL NEEDS: Nehemiah asks for practical needs to be met: permission, safety, and building materials. For the things you named above that break your heart, what are three practical things it would take for them to be rebuilt? Ask God to provide them.
YES
Approximately 5 minutes
Nehemiah is not only emotionally moved, he does not only ask for favor and supplies, he knows he needs to take action himself. He is confident “the God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding” (verse 20).
👂 Take a moment of silence to see how can you be an answer to the prayers you prayed as you walked. Is there an action God is inviting you to take? If so, share it with your walking partner and take a literal step forward to embody your “yes” to God.
YIELD
Approximately 5 minutes
You can play a part in rebuilding what is broken down, but ultimately it all depends on God for salvation and restoration in Europe.
🧱 Find two stones (or other objects), one larger than the other. As you place the smaller stone on top of the larger one, acknowledge your prayers today depend on God. Pray aloud from Psalm 62:6, Truly he is our rock and our salvation; he is our fortress, we will not be shaken.
NEXT STEPS
🏷️ Post a photo of your two stones to Instagram (or Facebook) and tag @thespark.europe and #thesparkwalk3. In your caption or in a story, share your prayer for what you want to see rebuilt.
👍 Follow @thespark.europe and look at #thesparkwalk3 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 another 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
