Photo Journal: Community Prayer Walk 1/24/10

Our main prayer this week: We see our big ‘strong’ buildings, but what would we do if tomorrow it was a pile of rubble?  Lord may our city realize how bad it needs You!

Photo Journal: Community Prayer Walk 1/17/10

Two things came up during this week’s special Community Prayer Walk:

1. Jesus reigns over this city!
2. As even Peter’s shadow may have healed people (Acts 5:12-16), may our passing leave a deposit of the Holy Spirit that touches people even well after we are gone.

The next one will be on Sunday, January 24th at 4:30 PM, and we will be meeting at our usual meet spot near the entrance to Island Park.

Prayer Walking In Our Community

Our church has done this for a while now, but most still don’t know what to expect with an event like this. Simply put, once per month a few people quietly gather in downtown Sarasota to pray over our community. And this is the kind of activity that will change the spiritual atmosphere of our city!

During our annual corporate fast, we will be doing this once each week. So, we wanted to take the opportunity to answer a few questions about what we do…

What is prayer walking?

Technically, it is just that… praying and walking. We usually walk the streets of downtown Sarasota, and quietly pray. We’re not out there to make a big public display. But we are just there to pray. We pray for the area businesses and the people who we see there. We also usually stop by City Hall to pray for our local, state and national government officials. But to anyone else in the downtown area at the time, we would look no different from others walking down the street.

Why do a prayer walk? Why not just pray in your own home?

While praying for our community from home is effective, praying while walking through our community allows us to see and experience things that we wouldn’t be able to see unless we were there. Prayer walkers see things that clue them in about how to pray. And we always ask God to show us things as we walk that should move us not only to pray, but also move us into action. This is way prayer walks are a major part of our church’s outreach strategy.

What does the Bible say about this sort of activity?

Joshua 1:3 “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.”

Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

What specifically should we pray?

• Fear of God. Proverbs 1:7
  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
     fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Sense of need. Acts 16:30
  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
• Conviction of sin. Luke 5:8
  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
• Repentance. Luke 13:3,5
  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
• Forgiveness. Mark 11:25
  And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
• Salvation. Acts 4:12
  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• Deliverance. Luke 4:18
  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
     because he has anointed me
     to proclaim good news to the poor.
  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
     and recovering of sight to the blind,
     to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
• Righteousness. 1 Timothy 6:11
  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
• Love. John 3:16
  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
• Peace. Philippians 4:6,7
  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Security. Proverbs 18:10
  The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
     the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
• Wisdom. Proverbs 2:6
  For the LORD gives wisdom;
     from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
• Integrity. Romans 12:17
  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
• Submission. Jeremiah 29:13
  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
• Protection. Psalms 3:3
  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
     my glory, and the lifter of my head.
• Compassion. Mark 1:41
  Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
• Unity. Matthew 12:25
  Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

So when and where do we go?

Normally we will meet at 6:00 PM on the second Sunday of every month. However, during our 21-day fast, we will be going each week before the special Sunday evening services (January 17th, 24th, and 31st). We will meet at our usual spot near the entrance to Island Park (near Marina Jacks) at 4:30 PM. We plan to be done by 5:30 PM so that we can leave and get to the church in time for our evening services at 6:00 PM.

Then in February we will return to the regular monthly schedule (second Sundays). In the meantime watch the church bulletin for details. and remember that anyone is welcome to join us for these walks. This is not about building an individual church, but about see God move in our community. So please feel free to invite others to come along and lift of the name of Jesus in Sarasota!

Some information here is from: Lydia Fellowship International