Those starting on their journey toward Christian spirituality and faith often have a number of questions about prayer. Praying is a common and expected aspect of faith, and prayer is recommended in order to further one’s relationship with God the Almighty and His son Jesus Christ. You can pray anywhere and at any time of day. Can you pray while walking or driving?
Can You Pray While Walking?
The question is commonly asked by new believers— ‘can you pray while walking or driving’? The simple answer is yes, you can. A deeper answer and explanation however, often follows. The act of praying is a solemn and important one for Christians, and should be done in respect, obedience, and focus. Many people offer up prayers of blessings or joy or even requests for help from God while walking, and sometimes even driving. When driving though, remember, safety first!
God likes to hear from us, and one of the best times to appreciate His glory is while walking; looking at the sky, the grass, enjoying the weather and His creation, whether it be hot or snowing. When praying to God, it’s not just about opening a line of communication and asking for support or protection, or even a favor. It’s also about remembering what He has done for and given us. When you look at nature, no matter where you live, it’s important to know and deeply understand that God made that towering pine tree, that beautiful lake, the mountains rising beyond, or the ocean upon whose sand you stand.
Your communications to God, whether offered silently or out loud, reach God’s ears. So yes you can pray while walking, or kneeling in prayer beside your bed at night, or inside your church. No matter where you are, God will hear you. Why does that bear repeating? When you pray, you open your heart and soul and even your deepest most hidden thoughts to God. Pay attention to what you’re doing and saying. While you don’t have to close your eyes while you pray, you should be focusing on your personal communication with the Lord.
Your Prayers and Belief
For Christians, faith is also required when giving your prayers to God. If you believe in God and His son Jesus Christ and what He has sacrificed for and done for you, your faith will be, and is, strong. Always pray with sincerity. Praying isn’t just about asking for favors, it’s about offering thanks to God for another morning, your family, your job, and a myriad of other blessings that have been bestowed upon you, sometimes without you even realizing it.
When praying, no matter where you are, you are purposely communicating with the Creator, with the Heavenly Father and His Son, to not only ask for what you need, but to express your appreciation, your love, and your devotion.
Can you pray while walking, asking for strength, support, or protection, not only physically, but regarding the concerns in your life, or for what’s going on around you in the world? Of course. Praying while walking provides a twofold benefit: first, you are communing with God. Second, you are doing it in the midst of His creation. Even in the bustling city, one can look up to the sky during the day or night and see the sun and the stars and the creatures that live in the air.
Give thanks for that. When asking for help from God, always remember to also offer thanks and gratitude in all sincerity for what He has given you. Life gets busy sometimes, and as you start along your journey toward faith and fellowship in Christ, it’s often easy to become distracted.
Spirituality and Faith Lead to Belief and Vice Versa
Spirituality and faith lead to a greater, deeper belief in God. You can’t have one without the other. You can’t believe without faith. Christian faith requires a belief in God, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. No matter where you are, no matter how busy your day, you can stop for a moment to pray, whether it’s a simple ‘Thank you, God for this day’, or an earnest prayer for security, safety, support, or to strengthen your faith and belief.
So the simplest answer to, ‘can you pray while walking’ is again, yes, as your prayers should be focusing on the one-on-one relationship between you and God in the moment. Push other thoughts and chores or worries from your mind as you walk, if just for a moment when you pray. This means if you’re outside walking or you’re in your car driving home from work, or you’re at home praying before bedtime.
God wants us to pray no matter where we are or what we’re doing. You don’t have to speak out loud. He can hear you. Your prayers are not only our request to God, but require personal commitment on our part. For this reason, no matter where you pray, whether it’s alone or with a fellowship, remember that there is a requirement requested of you.
Psalms 66:16-20, tells us that “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and he was extolled (praised) with my tongue. If I regard iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!”
God does hear your prayers, no matter where you are and no matter what you’re doing at that moment – as long as it is heartfelt. Your prayers can be offered in secret, in public, with your family, or in a group of fellow believers. The requirements asked of you when you pray is that you believe in God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, who gave His life for you.
Can you pray while walking? Yes. Walk in faith, pray in faith and believe with all your heart and soul and He will always hear your prayers.
