I love running. I love the feeling. I love the results. I love everything about an early morning run. Running, however, did not love me back. It was a one-sided love affair that left my body aching and broken-down. I'll never forget my last run. I pushed through searing knee pain as I prayed. I still remember so clearly hearing the Lord speak to my heart, "Sarah, you're not meant to run, you're made to walk. Walking is your perfect exercise." My heart and head wrestled. I knew it to be true, yet I struggled to give up my runs. I came to the end of my run that day with tears flowing down my face, but heart surrendered as I offered up my body to the Lord and committed to caring for it in healthier ways. It was indeed an offering. I laid down running on the alter and trusted that God would honor and redeem it. He did. I gave him my runs, He gave me revelation. I had no idea what blessings walking held for me. When He told me I was made to walk I assumed He simply meant it was best for me physically. Little did I know it would become one of my most powerful spiritual battlegrounds, place of sacred solace, and private gathering place for cherished time with Jesus. What began as exercise became so much more and now truly is one of my greatest gifts from the Lord. I like to make my time walking with the Lord more powerful by intentionally using them to use what I call the "Four P's." Walking offers powerful spiritual renewal by providing time to pray, praise, process, and purge. I hope the discovery God's given me over the years will help transform an ordinary walk into a profound life and eternity changing time of refreshing, revelation, and warfare for you as well.

Pray

Walking allows time and space to pray in a unique way. Most of us are bombarded by noise, distraction, devices, and busyness. The quite solace of walking allows much needed quiet time to not only talk to God but also hear from Him as well. Sometimes as I walk I cry out to Him about the weightiest cares on my heart. Sometimes I'll dedicate an entire walk to simply interceding for the needs of others. Sometimes "prayer" is more just simply hanging out with Jesus and talking about lighthearted thoughts. It's conversational as though walking with my best friend. The important part is that it creates a place for the Holy Spirit to move and I've seen powerful answers come from prayer I've prayed on my "warrior walks."

Praise

Have you ever noticed how being outside just causes praise to rise up within you? All of creation celebrates God's glory. I believe when we walk outside something in our spirit connects to His as we enjoy the Lord's creativity, beauty, and splendor. There are many times I will go for a walk and do nothing but praise and worship. Nothing - nothing - transforms our minds faster than praise. Going for a "praise walk" brings life to the soul. If you're in a bad mood, go for a walk and praise! If you're struggling against temptation of the flesh, go for a walk and praise! If you're angry and agitated, go for a walk and praise! I promise it will become a life-changing habit for you. I can't accurately begin to explain what I've seen the Lord do in my life through this one simple habit!

Process

I need time to process my thoughts. With kids, busy schedules, constant demands, and the hustle and bustle of daily life, time to hear myself think is a rare luxury. The ability to truly think and process my thoughts is one of the healthiest byproducts of my daily walks. I'm always amazed by how much I need time to sort my thoughts. If you struggle with anxiety I cannot encourage you enough to begin taking daily walks with the intention of giving your thoughts a "place to land." I've found that much of what produces anxiety is simply undone thoughts. Many times when we can order them and give them a proper place to land, the lion's-share of our anxiety is alleviated. There is also a physiological response in the body that occurs when we walk. Have you ever noticed that you feel more clear-headed on a walk? Your mood shifts? You feel better mentally, physically, and emotionally? There's a biological reason for that. When we go for a walk, the heart pumps faster, circulating more blood and oxygen not just to the muscles but to all the organs including the brain. Walking also helps promote new neurological connections and elevates levels of the molecules needed to help stimulate the growth of new neurons. What that means is there is literally no better time or place for processing thoughts than on a walk, cool right?

Purge

I'm a bit of a "stuffer." I had NO idea that I was until I started taking regular walks. I always thought of myself as being proficient in dealing with my feelings and emotions. Turns out I'm not as good at it as I thought. Walking provides a safe, healthy, private place to purge emotions that can otherwise poison our bodies and spirits. This type of purging is what I believe the Bible describes as prayer that the Holy Spirit is able to understand and help present to the Father. It can come in groans, moans, deep sighs, purging exhales, screams, shouts, whimpers, and weeping. This is a rare and precious form of soul-care and supernatural love. Making yourself vulnerable enough to pour out and purge in the light of ever-loving grace is one of the most healing and cathartic ways to turn a simple walk into free therapy and salvation for the soul.

I pray that you'll use these suggestions to help increase health, blessings, relationship with Jesus, and spiritual refreshing in your own life. Enjoy your walk!