Left, right … left, right … I remember the gravel crunching under my feet …
Left, right … left, right … I can almost smell the acrid diesel engine smoke from the nearby train …
Left, right … left, right … I can feel the sun’s warmth stirring new growth around me.
As I worked through the homework my counselor had given me, longings were stirred deeply within me. She had told me about studies showing that remembering a pleasant situation would stir those same endorphins that had been stirred at the initial event. Then, another therapist told me other studies revealed that remembering a particular left-right physical movement could improve the brain’s tolerance of “referred pain” and calm over-stimulated nerve fibers.
I knew that memories could be helpful, but all I could think was how much I missed being out in nature, how much I missed praying with God as I walked my neighborhoods, and how much I missed sharing those prayer times with friends. Since chronic illness had hindered my ability to walk, sitting in my chair and looking out the windows had become my main connection with nature.
It had not always been that way. In fact, when I studied the Spiritual Disciplines as a young adult, I was surprised to find that my usual way of meeting with God in nature had a name: Prayer Walking. Stunned, I learned that my walking through the neighborhood and listening for God’s prayer prompts was a learned discipline for many people.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
However, now I felt God’s gift of seeing His beauty and communing with Him while walking had been stolen from me. How could God have allowed that beautiful way of connecting with Him to be removed?
His answer included another question: Could I look back and remember the gifts I had been given?
So I began, moving backward through the years…
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I would love to have you join me over at Chronic Joy to read or hear the audio of the remainder of this post. I had written these words to share several months ago. But with this aging and foggy brain of mine, I had forgotten about it on the day it arrived in my inbox. In fact, my day had been full of the very thing I had written about: new ways of sharing prayers with friends now that prayer walking isn’t viable. Emails, messages, and phone calls have become precious gifts to connect with God’s people from my limited physical space.
Are you being called to a new way of sharing or praying? Click here to join me at Chronic Joy to see the grace gifts He gave along the way.
I pray that this song blesses you as much as it has blessed me lately:
I am linking today with Traffic Jam Reboot
BettieGsRAseasons 
Thank you for this great message. I have a prayer walking devotional that I’m trying to get published. Hopefully, one day. 🙂 I love walking and talking with God.
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Oh Melissa I look forward to reading your devotional! I will pray for God to bring it all together at just the right time. Thank you for always being so encouraging. Blessings to you dear friend!
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This is such a great read Bettie. I have long enjoyed my prayer walks every morning, and it is truly such a beautiful time with the Lord! I cherish it dearly! I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to not be able to do this. You have such a precious sweet spirit about it. I know the Lord has an incredible crown waiting for you in glory for the patience with which you have endured your trials here on earth! Much love and prayers to you dear friend!
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Dear Marilyn, thank you so much for appreciating the beauty of prayer walking! It is such a gift from the Lord. And in the same way it is only His gift of strength that has helped me to surrender to new kinds of gifts. I’ve appreciated your prayers so much dear sister. Blessings and love to you.
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A beautiful post Bettie. One I can relate to…
Blessings to you sweet friend, Jennifer 💕
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Dear Jennifer, thank you for your understanding. I know you’ve been through so many surrenders, so your compassion and prayers mean so much to me. Blessings and love to you dear friend.
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Thank you for such an encouraging post, Bettie. I especially needed it today. Love and blessings to you!
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Oh Trudy, I am so blessed that God touched you here. I know you understand so well the changing of the seasons, and the limitations that come. Thank you for sharing your heart so often and encouraging me. Love and blessings to you too dear friend.
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Oh the release of surrendering to the something new that God is leading us to…I imagine you may see the depth of colours and intricate details of God’s creations when gazing out a window during your prayer time with Him. Thank you for encouraging me to see the gifts He showers upon us wherever He leads us!
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Dear Lynn, thank you so much for all of your encouragement too. Yes, I am beginning to see the incredible gifts of nature here in our suburban backyard too. I may miss the woodland setting of our Wisconsin home, but God continues to surprise me with the beauty that He has placed here also. He draws forth those moments of praise and prayer from our hearts, doesn’t He? Blessings to you dear sister.
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