When I’m stuck in a tangle of worry or overwhelm, I take a walk. Since I live by the beach, I’ve mentioned the sandy shore is my go-to place, but sometimes I just walk down the street to the corner grocery store where I’m captivated by the bright colored spring flowers shining their faces toward the beaming sun, settled like little children sitting with smiles in neighborhood gardens. These are often the moments when hope peaks out of pockets of fretting, when solace springs from my cluttered mind, or a scripture arises, bringing me home to the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.
“Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” Genesis 13:17
Ludwig Van Beethoven would often takes long walks, carrying pen and paper in the event of inspiration.
Charles Dickens once said, “If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish”.
Henry David Thoreau shared, “an early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day”.
Poet William Wordsworth saw walking and writing poetry as ‘indivisible’.
Wallace Stevens words speak to me, “Perhaps the only truth depends on a walk around the lake”.
On a quest to share his love of God, beloved Saint Francis spoke of walking as a kind of sermon, “It’s no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”
We can’t be exact on how many miles Jesus walked sharing the good news of God with the people. Some biblical researchers say he might have walked over 3,000 miles just in his 3 year ministry.
Today thousands walk the Camino Trail in search of deeper connection with God (a colleague was a producer on a film about the trail). Others flock to the Jesus Trail, a forty mile pilgrimage founded by two hikers based on places Jesus walked in the beginning of his ministry illustrated in the Gospel of Matthew 4. Note, Jesus’ ministry started after he is tempted by the devil, where he begins to meet and gather the disciples.
I invite you to read the verse below from The Message, imagining the magnitude of Jesus’ walk, how this walk from town to town changed the world.
Then, I’d say, carve out a time to take a walk, and make it a prayer or begin a walking ministry.
12-17 When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. This move completed Isaiah’s sermon:
Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
road to the sea, over Jordan,
Galilee, crossroads for the nations.
People sitting out their lives in the dark
saw a huge light;
Sitting in that dark, dark country of death,
they watched the sun come up.
This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: “Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.”
18-20 Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.
21-22 A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.
23-25 From there he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God’s kingdom was his theme—that beginning right now they were under God’s government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives. Word got around the entire Roman province of Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment, whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus healed them, one and all. More and more people came, the momentum gathering. Besides those from Galilee, crowds came from the “Ten Towns” across the lake, others up from Jerusalem and Judea, still others from across the Jordan.
My morning walk this morning filled me with the sweet scents of grace. As I headed home to face my work load, a warm caressing breeze reminded me of God’s comfort, helping release thick-skinned tension from weeks of preparing taxes, of the daily stresses that smothered joy. My morning walk was more than just a walk. It was a meeting with God, a lovely, blessed, walking prayer, a reflection on the walking ministry of Jesus.
I encourage you to carve out a special time this your own prayer walk!
We love your comments!
Hi Kathy! I LOVE to walk. It’s my go-to exercise, I want to be outside! (Treadmills just don’t count.) I often let my mind wander right along with me, as I take in the grass, flowers, see other walkers/joggers. I don’t live by any water (would love to though!), so I walk on a nature path.
I was very impressed by the amount Jesus walked. Wow! And no new Nike’s for him, just sandals. I think I’ll remember this post when I go for my walk today, praising God for my ability to walk at all. Like some of the quotes said, where would I be if I couldn’t do it?
Blessings,
Ceil
You’re so smart to trade the treadmill for a glorious walk! I’m walking more now, and so blessed by it! I would
love to do the Jesus trail sometime, imagine how much he walked without Nikes! Blessings today!
Beautiful. Sharing.
thank you Sasha!
I love my walks with God! Blessings! So glad I stumbled here from #TestimonyTuesday!
thank you for coming by Liz!
I love this post! I had never really thought about how much Jesus walked as he was travelling around preaching. I love to walk and it really helps me connect with God. Just yesterday I was feeling quite stressed and I went for a walk in a local park. As I was walking along beside a stream, God brought to mind Psalm 23. I really did have the sense that he was leading me beside still waters restoring my soul and it was exactly what I needed.
Wow, thank you for sharing your walk in the park, and that Psalm 23 came to mind for you..and how your walk was truly restorative and a blessing. You simply added a beautiful testimony to my blog today and I’m so grateful! Blessings Carly!
What an inspiring post! I don’t walk nearly enough but after reading this, I think I should make it part of my daily routine. What a wonderful way to have a conversation with our Heavenly Father!
I love that this inspired you Robin, walking is somewhat of a lost treasure I think we need to do much more often! Blessings to you!
Beautiful post!
I love your insights into walking and all the quotes you shared. The following quote especially rang true with me as it put into words something I was feeling, but didn’t recognize until I read this quote, “Henry David Thoreau shared, “an early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day”.
I don’t take early morning walks enough. There is something about being outside during the early morning that makes me reflect on God’s creation and the beauty contained within. It seems to set my day on a joyful tone.
I also appreciated your insights into Jesus and how many miles He must have walked and all that He accomplished for the Kingdom through those many miles of steps.
Thank you for sharing this very encouraging post!
I also love the early morning walks and Thoreau’s words ring so true..I want to have more morning walks,
a special way to begin the day that truly sets the tone for the day. I so enjoyed your comment and visit
and hope to connect again Karen!
I can so relate to this! I love to talk a walk and soak up nature. It is so calming and I really feel as if I am closer to God because I’m admiring all of His magnificence.
Lovely Sarah!! Thank you for visiting!
I will be checking out that Jesus trail. It will be added to my ‘bucket list!’ Thank you for sharing! I love to walk too, preferring hiking over biking especially as I can then stop and take photos easily. Many of my writings come from pondering thoughts while walking or resting on a walk in front of stream, lake, or pond. Yearly I facilitate a guided prayer walk, where we meditate on scripture verses at set up stations along our way. You’ve given me an idea to meditate on Jesus’ walk when He was among us. God is good! Always guiding us…
Wonderful Lynn –you’re inspiring me to add the Jesus Trail to my bucket list, too! How wonderful that
you enjoy taking photos on your walks, I notice so much beauty on my walks wishing sometimes I had a camera..
and how I love you facilitate a guided prayer walk with scripture meditations, beautiful! Love your comment
and blessed by your visit!
Walking is one of the best exercises to keep our bodies healthy. I have bad knees which preclude any running, but walks seem to be a good remedy for my knee pain. The added dimension of using walking as a way to deepen my relationship with God makes me put this exercise as top priority. Thank you for your insights and the quotes from others who found walking important for their spiritual as well as physical health.
thanks Kathy for your words. I want to do more walking as exercise. I was just thinking this morning how I’m dreading going to the gym, and want more diversity in my exercising..more hiking which means more reflective time with God away from the noise at the gym! Thanks for the encouragement for spiritual/physical health!
I write in a little house behind our big house and, since the bathroom in the little house is broken, my writing is broken up by frequent trips to the “big house” for the bathroom, water and to tend the wood stove. I think even those little walks are part of my writing routine and often give me what I need to keep working. This spring, our kids are finally old enough to go on longer walks with a little less whining – I’m really looking forward to that 🙂
I like that..the pauses between your bathroom walks as part of your writing and a respite between thoughts! Awesome. I loved the time my son was ready for hikes back then, it’s a wonderful family memory..you will really enjoy it.. It’s so good for us and our kids to get out on long walks!
Thank you for yet another reminder of a simple and beautiful way to connect to the divine. There are few things that bring me to that place of peace and spiritual centeredness as strolling through natural beauty. Your writing reminds me of one of my favorite quotes (can’t remember who said it): “one needs to take a walk, read a good book and make a new friend daily.” This is a go to practice when I hit those days of feeling paralyzed (I miss my Estrogen). Maybe we should all consider becoming pilgrims and doing The Camino together from Spain to France……in honor of St. James. I love exploring our beautiful San Diego trails with you dear Kathy and plan to do much more.
I just love that quote..it speaks to the simple joys in life, and my favorite things..books, walks, and friends! I would love to do Camino sometime, or at least watch my friend’s film! Hiking San Diego trails with you has been a blessing–and Malibu!