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.
Three 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--in PrayerWalk.
"Prayerwalking makes so much sense, you'll wonder why you haven't been doing it all your life!" --Heather and David Kopp, coauthors of the Praying the Bible series
"Honest, humorous, and insightful, PrayerWalk will encourage your heart." --Linda Dillow, author of Intimate Issues
Loved how the author considers her prayer walk as a ministry to others. The author gives wise prayer and walking tips in the book, and has made me take a bold new look into my own prayer life.
As I watched a presentation by Janet Holm McHenry, I so appreciated her practical and step-by-step approach to formulating an idea and creating a book that I purchased her audiobook, “PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength, and Discipline,” and her book, “Praying Personalities: Finding Your Natural Prayer Style.”
Usually, I don’t read self-help books. However, the combination of essential spiritual practices for everyday life—prayer, walking, discipline, and strength—captured my attention. Who doesn’t need all those attributes? I listened to the audiobook and thought it would have benefited from a professional narrator. McHenry did a good job reading her work, but numerous times I found myself missing the drama and vocal inflection as I devoured her concept of multi-tasking for the Lord.
My favorite part of the book was meeting Janet Holm McHenry. She is a full-time English teacher with loads of homework to correct. Nevertheless, she wakes at 5 am to PrayWalk, still in her jammies beneath a heavy coat that she said made her look like the Michelin man. I appreciated her invitation to join her on a morning walk and enter the sanctuary of her prayer life.
For those who want to incorporate a walk and worship into their day, McHenry encourages walking at a consistent time and beginning with prayers for themselves and their families. She eventually broadened her scope of worship to include neighbors and businesses she passed along her walk, then expanded to praying for her students. I don’t have any high-school students to pray for, but I have a circle of ladies in my Bible Study, and others I can pray for, like my husband. Little by little, I’ve figured out a time that works best for my lifestyle. Not only am I becoming better at dealing with distractions, but I feel encouraged and energized by McHenry’s PrayerWalk approach.
If you enjoy learning helpful and practical skills for everyday life, this might be the book for you. If you enjoy “The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman and “Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, I think you will enjoy “PrayerWalk: Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength and Discipline” by Janet Holm McHenry.
This book encourages readers to make prayer walking a daily habit. It lauds prayer walking as a joyful method to draw close to God through praise and thanksgiving. It also talks about the importance of interceding for others and using prayer to engage in spiritual warfare. The book has a highly practical tone a how-to focus on exercise and prayer. It gives tips for sticking with the practice to truly grow your prayer life.
This book will make you smile and tear up. It is beautifully written. Prayerwalking is an interesting concept and something anyone can do. I really enjoyed the concept of this book. My only criticism is that I wish it went a little deeper; but at the same time, I realize it will be a different ecperience for each individual. I highly recommend!
A quick read. The first part deals with the practicalities of walking so if you are already walking you can really skip or skim it. The next part is about her own experience with pray walking. This was great inspiration to making me want to start my own pray walking.
It's summer and a time for fun, vacation and prayerwalking?? Practical advice about integrating really two important aspects of our lives, keeping fit both spiritually and physically, Janet Holm McHenry, shares about how to make the most of not only keeping fit, but like many who are seeking ways to incorporate a more richer prayer life, into our daily routines.
In PrayerWalk, Janet shared the following quote from Jamie Luner that goes,"If you've got time to sit in front of the television, to go out to dinner with your friends, or to read a book, you've got time to work out and take care of yourself".
Isn't that true about really anything we put off saying we don't have time for, but we have time for other things to take the place of that much needed project?
In,"PrayerWalk", Janet shares not only ideas for finding time rather you work outside of the home or stay at home, but even a nice outline of warm up tips, how and what to pray for and an encouraging bible study and discussion guide at the end that will leave anyone motivated to begin a Prayer Walk, either alone or with a Prayer buddy.
I have to confess, exercise is something that I don't do well in and reading "Prayer Walk", I had images of running shoes, and do I need to find a gym, how do I do this just within the neighborhood, can I do this at all, but reading "Prayer Walk" really left me motivated with, "I can do this," it's not only good for my cardiovascular system, but also, what a way to find the time to spend in prayer over friends, family and those who are in need.
We listen to ipods when we work out,right? So why not use that time for quiet contemplation and prayer? Not only get fit physically, but also mentally.
This is a motivating book, and the anecdotes that Janet shares, demonstrates not only the power of prayer, but also the importance of having a daily prayer life.
If you are looking to start a new goal this summer, or maybe you've had exercise or walking down as a New Year's Resolution, and you just haven't gotten to it yet, I suggest reading, "Prayer Walk" to be motivated not to only power up your exercise routine, but also power up your praying life routine.
PrayerWalk by Janet Holm McHenry is a great book if you're thinking of prayerwalking for yourself. This is something I've wanted to do for a while now, and have done occasionally... but I'm glad I had the chance to read the book before I made a commitment. There is so much to think about. Not that you have to be a perfectionist or anything... it's not a list of to-do's... just that the book gives great tips and good advice before beginning. Such as; bringing water, what shoes to wear, clothing, safety, and prayer. Great advice on prayer.
The author shares her personal experiences of her first years of PrayerWalking. She explains in detail the benefits, physically and spiritually, as well as the challenges. This is not a book that just says "Now get out there and do it!", the author has done her research. And much of her knowledge comes first hand.
I enjoyed reading this book. It has motivated me. I was reading another book about walking WITH God, not ahead or behind, so when I saw this book.... I knew it was my answer to prayer. I'm ready for a deeper prayer life... I'm ready to walk with God.
*Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book for my honest review!
Walking is not something I think a lot about but prayer is something I need to do and do better at, so the book Prayerwalking by Janet Holm McHenry really piqued my interest and I dove into it and found it to be positively inspiring as well as a quick read – I read it in a day and a half. Combining exercise and prayer can take care of two birds with one stone as well as getting fit and covering your house, neighborhood and city under a protection of prayer.
While I haven’t set out on my own prayer walk yet, with high heat and humidity, I don’t think the Lord would want me to make myself ill while praying to Him, but this is definitely something I want to consider as time and weather allows. The author does say this isn’t something you just wake up and do and then stop after a week, this is a commitment and you have to stick with it. Prayer can accomplish everything and walking can get you in shape and if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or other ailments walking may help you in gaining long term physical health, not to mention the emotional health you’ll also gain by coupling prayer and exercise.
***Special thanks to Laura Tucker, WaterBrook Multnomah Publicity for sending me a review copy.**
I feel a bit shallow writing this as the beginning of the review, but the term "prayerwalking' began to bother me after about page 5. That reason alone is the reason I gave it 2 stars. I thought it might annoy me after page 1 but I kept reading. There were many good things I liked about the book, so let me talk about those more than me just being picky. I appreciated the author telling us about her prayer life, giving insight to what she prays for, how she prays, stories of how prayer has affected her and the community around her, etc. She made me think of a few things I haven't really considered in my own prayer life- like prayer mapping or different types of praying. I am also a teacher so some of the issues regarding her students really resonated with me. I also appreciated some of the statistics she included about staying physically fit and even little pieces of advice about things like picking out proper shoes for walking. Reading this book has made me more mindful to the role that prayer plays in my own life and ways to deepen my relationship with God through my prayer life.
Prayer Walk is a refreshing book in learning, developing, and experiencing another level in connecting to God. The author shares her experience and what she gain from prayer walking. The book although is an development in prayer walk, but it serves as a guideline for those that want to get started in prayer walking but lack the organizational skills to do so. The book also gives the readers the main purpose in prayer walking. It helps our lives in the physical as well as in the spiritual. It works great in being an effective communicator with the Heavenly Father. It works great in building your physical stamina and eliminates fatigue. Our bodies is the temple in which the Holy Spirit lives in, make it a healthy way to live by prayer walking.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
Prayer Walk is a great book that is full of encouragement and inspiration to get into a deeper relationship with our Savior through prayer while getting our minds and bodies in shape! We are called to pray but Janet has put together so many great ways in which we can learn to discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in this little book that it can't help but be a driving force in changing the scope and effectiveness of our prayers.
Sometimes we just need a reminder of how dependent we are to be on God and that the only way we can fully know Him is to be engaged in an active prayer life. I am looking forward to being able to get out there and spend that alone time with Him, praising and petitioning Him, and listening to what He has to say to me, all while getting fit!
This is a great book for any woman who wants to increase her prayer time while also gaining some activity. I don’t know why it had never occurred to me to try to pair walking with praying! LOL It’s an excellent idea, and this book is packed with information not just on what exactly prayerwalking is, but also tips on how to get started. There is even a 30-day guide to help you get started on the right foot. It’s a great resource, and something that I’m going to attempt to incorporate into my own life.
The author does a great job describing what a prayer walker is, and also how God transformed her life both physically and spiritually. The book showed me what God can do with my life if I give myself to Him completely. The author is a testimony of what the power of prayer did to change her, as well as her community.
What a great idea! I want to walk more, but I just can't find the motivation -- (where DID my motivation go??) Anyway, the idea here is that some of us want to walk more; and, we want to pray more. We just don't have the time! Hmmmmm, how about combining the two??? Not rocket science, but inspiring!! Who could stay in bed if you have a date with God??? (How's THAT for a guilt trip!!?)
I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. I received the book in a Firstreads giveaway and was very happy that I did. I am rejoining my journey with God and have been doing what I am good at which is READING to get to know him better! This book has made me aware of how I need to being advancing on my own prayer journey.
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
What a great book! Very motivating and full of ideas on how to make the most of walking and growing closer to God. I have actually started doing something like what Janet talks about with a friend in the last few months and it is fantastic! Highly recommended!
I need to pray and walk-both were part of my New Year plan that has not fully developed. I saw this and it sounds perfect for me. I bought it for my nook. Now, I hope to get to it within the next few months! ;-)
This is an inspirational book that combines both exercise and prayer. I read it more for the prayer part (and the fact that it was a free review copy), but if you are a Christian, it just might motivate you to pray more and get moving. It's a quick read that I would recommend.
Easy to read, filled with practical tips and real life examples, about both the physical and spiritual effects of prayerwalking. Highly motivating, excellent read, with questions in the back to further depth of your study and/or share with group.