A walk along the beach is synonymous with the rhythmic sound of the waves, fresh air, an endless horizon and many more sensory experiences that promote relaxation. Walking with God transforms your soul. It goes way beyond healthy exercise and relaxation by helping us to invite God into our everyday, building community along the journey and transforming suffering with love.
Can something as simple as walking change not only your body but also your soul? I believe it can. Walking is one of the most fundamental activities for our physical well-being, but when we invite God to join us, it becomes a profound act of spiritual transformation. In my book, Walking with God, we explore how the act of walking, paired with intentional reflection and prayer, can lead to holistic wellness and deepen our faith.
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Every journey begins with a single step. Whether it’s a physical or spiritual journey, that first step signals intention—a willingness to move toward change. In Walking with God, I invite you to take that literal first step, committing to a walk with God. Through biblical reflections and personal stories, we explore how God has been part of life’s journeys, past and present, and how we can cultivate this connection in our own lives.
Caring for our bodies is an act of stewardship. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and maintaining our health equips us to fulfill God’s purpose in the world. An old police officer once told me, “Hurt people can’t help hurt people, but well people can.” And when we can care for other people, we are not only living out God’s purpose for us in life, but we are also contributing to our holistic well-being and expression of our faith.
Research1 clearly supports that when we care for others, we deepen our sense of purpose and meaning in life, develop our existential understanding, and derive greater happiness and joy. Inviting God to join us on those walks, simply takes the practice of being human to a deeper level.
INVITING GOD INTO THE EVERYDAY
When we invite God on our walks, we invite God to be a part of “normal” everyday life activities. This practice brings us in closer relationship with God. I often think of the “how” of deepening my relationship with God, the same way I would work on developing a stronger relationship with someone I care about. When we build strong bonds of relationship with another person, we invite them to do things with us. We spend time in conversation with that person. We are vulnerable with our deepest thoughts, feelings, and concerns, and we trust that person to hold those conversations with deepest care.
When God is with me on my walk, I am sharing the ups and downs of my life to deepen that experience with God. My time in walking prayer looks a lot like me pounding the pavement for the first half with me sharing all that weighs on my heart and soul.
Over time, I have developed the ability to quiet my mind (and heart) for the second half of my walk where I seek to listen. What are the insights and revelations that God shares with me as I return on my journey that leads me peace and understanding. I have found over time that the more I invite God into the mundane, into my daily habits and practices, the more profound experience I have that God is there in all things. God’s presence becomes more pronounced so that when I do experience the struggles of life, I have a habit created to seek God’s presence to get me through this valley.
BUILDING COMMUNITY ALONG THE JOURNEY
Faith was never meant to be a solitary endeavor. Just as walking with God deepens our relationship with Him, walking together deepens our relationships with others. Churches play a vital role in fostering this holistic approach to wellness. By incorporating programs like Walking with God, faith communities can offer an intergenerational experience that nurtures body and spirit.
Imagine families, seniors, and singles sharing their journeys, reflecting on their faith, and encouraging one another to meet physical fitness goals. Walking together fosters love and connection, fulfilling God’s call to love, community and mutual support.
TRANSFORMING SUFFERING WITH LOVE
When we go on these journeys together, we develop relationship, just like when we invite God along with us for our walk to deepen our relationship with God, we deepen our relationship with others when do “Walking with God” together. And at the heart of walking together is love. And God calls us to love one another. Because God knows that with love, the greatest sorrow and suffering can be transformed. Jesus’s death and resurrection is a journey of how love transformed great suffering into something more. Love resurrected death into new life. And God is telling us throughout our journey of life that this promise isn’t just for Jesus; it’s for all of us.
AN INVITATION TO BEGIN
When asked how to integrate mind, body, and spirit, my answer is always the same: “Come take a walk with me.” The first step toward walking with God is simply taking it—inviting Him to join you. With each step, you open yourself to the possibility of transformation, just as God has done in countless biblical journeys.
So, I invite you: come take a walk with me. Let’s discover together how God can turn the simplest act into a life-changing journey.
To learn more or purchase Walking with God, visit my website.
1 International Journal of Indian Psychology. (n.d.). A study on altruism and subjective well-being among emerging adults. Retrieved from https://ijip.in/articles/a-study-on-altruism-and-subjective-well-being-among-emerging-adults/; BMC Public Health. (2017). Volunteering is associated with better mental and physical health outcomes. Retrieved from https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4561-8; Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, happiness, and health: It’s good to be good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 66–77. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1207/s15327558ijbm1202_4; Thomas, S. C., & Cameron, J. E. (2017). Altruism and existential well-being: Enhancing the sense of purpose and meaning in life. University of Akron. Retrieved from https://www.uakron.edu/sociology/faculty-staff/Altruism%20and%20Existential%20Well-Being%202017.pdf
