AMOKArts Video Blog Prayer Walking

Spiritual disciplines are the key to succeeding in your arts ministry.

Prayer walking for me started out of necessity as much as anything else. You see almost six years ago I had a heart attack. I was trying to do ministry in my own strength, trying to go on three hours of sleep a night and work most of the rest of the time and staying awake on caffeine and chocolate. What I found was you can’t do that for very long before something breaks. My heart attack was mild but it was a wake up call. If I am going to last for the long haul I need to care for my body, exercise, eat right and get some rest. That’s how I found walking. I live in the country and I really enjoy the quiet and the sounds of nature and as I began to combine these walks with prayer God really began to show me things. Most of the best art and message ideas I have ever had have come while walking these roads and spending time with my Father.

Living where I do, I see very few people on my walks so I actually speak to God out loud as if I was talking to a friend and of course, I am. No one hears me, except God, so I don’t look too crazy. I usually begin by thanking him. Every time I see the beauty of my surroundings I am in awe of the true Master Artist who not only made it all so beautiful, but He also made it work. It is both inspiring and humbling. I praise Him and I thank Him. I intercede for my family, my friends and neighbors as I pass their homes and then I pray for all those folks who are on my heart. I pray my church and for the church and I pray for the lost especially in my community that they might come to Jesus and I pray for you who see these videos and who God as is calling to use your gifts to serve the Lord. You are the movement and the tribe God has called me to serve.

And then I try to get quiet and ask Him to speak that’s usually when the ideas start to flow. Don’t forget prayer is a conversation and the best stuff comes when we stop talking and listen and receive what the Father speaks in His still small voice. Don’t overlook prayer, don’t get so busy doing what you do that you skip this step, because it is the step that will give your ministry power. You don’t have to prayer walk to pray but you do have to pray. If you try to do ministry in your own strength, no matter how gifted or talented you may be, it will take its toll and your work will not be anointed. It’s God that brings the power. The first step is always to pray.