Prayer Walk review

PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline

Book description:

Challenge your body. Feed your spirit. Change the world.
Ask any Christian woman about her most recent New Year’s resolutions, and you’ll likely find that “exercise regularly” and “pray more” were at the top of her list. We all long to look and feel our best, to live actively and healthfully. More than that, we desire to connect intimately with our God. Yet physical health and spiritual growth often take a backseat to the urgent demands of grocery shopping and bill paying, time with family and friends, and long hours at the office.

It’s Time to Exercise Your Prayer Life.

Thirteen years ago, author Janet Holm McHenry suffered from depression, weight gain, and exhaustion. Then she began a prayerwalk routine that not only transformed her life but also profoundly impacted the lives of those around her.

Learn how you, too, can set out on a journey to increased energy, better health, and greater joy—and experience a rich, full prayer ministry that will have a lasting impact on your loved ones and community.  (from the back of the book)

My Review:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I began to read this book.  I mean, how can you write an entire book about praying and walking together.  For me it seemed pretty simple, you walk and pray while you walk.  However, the author was making a connection between physical and spiritual health and I was interested to see how that was going to pan out, so I began reading.

In part 1 McHenry focuses on the "why" of prayer walking.  It will be sacrifice, adding prayer to walking doesn't make walking more fun or cause you to leap out of bed ready to go at 5 am.  Like most things though, if it is hard to do it is usually worth it.  She explains the health benefits of walking and the spiritual benefits of praying.

McHenry reminds us that "we live in a word of distractions-good ones, even- so we must have our eyes fixed and purpose determined...(because) developin a deep relationship with Him requires time...but God is now the number one priority of your day, not a distant cousin met through email once a month...we can't ask Christ to dwell inside our hearts but fail to give him the time of day."

By the end of section 1 I was ready to lace up my dusty walking shoes and get going.  McHenry presents a very compelling arguement for both walking and spending time with God in prayer.

Section 2 focuses more on the mechanics.  Questions such as How do I pray?  Who do I pray for?  The caution is even in there that we should not use this time to focus on the work of Satan, but to draw closer to the works of God.  McHenry closes the book with examples of people who have been affected due to God answering prayers. 

My copy of the book includes a 30 day prayer and fitness challenge, guide to organizing a community prayer walk, and study guide. 

All in all, this is a pretty good book that will motivate you to get up, get moving and get praying. 

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.