Walking in Faith: How a Simple Walk Can Strengthen Your Body and Spirit
There are many instances in scripture that illustrate the symbolic and literal connection between walking, our faith, and holistic wellbeing.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 CSB
“You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
Deuteronomy 5:33 NKJV
“… And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 NKJV
Let’s talk about our spiritual “walk” first…
“Walk” in these Bible verses could be replaced with “Live your life…”
Walking isn’t just a physical activity but also a spiritual practice. Walking has been historically linked to prayer and faith in the Bible. We see this in Jesus, withdrawing to quiet places seeking solitude with the Lord. We also see this in Moses, walking 40 years through the desert. We can choose to be Moses- receiving revelation and intimate connection with God while we “walk”; or we can be the majority of the Israelites- who walk and wander, fall away from Gods presence and into His wrath.
Woah. That got serious.
Something lighter…
The Physical Benefits of Walking:
There are SO MANY HEALTH BENEFITS
I always refer my clients to this old video on YouTube by Dr. Mike Evans - the single best thing you can do for your health. He goes over a bunch of studies done on walking for 30 minutes every day and the benefits of limiting a sedentary lifestyle to only 23.5 hours per day. (It hits a little harder when you word it that way, huh?)
Here’s the link to that video if you want to watch it. https://youtu.be/aUaInS6HIGo?si=8B9JqWn7etRyZBI2
Here are some quick highlights:
Improve sleep
Improves bones and joint strength
Improve blood pressure
Ease pain / Improve arthritis
Increase lifespan and quality of life
Improve endurance
Boosts energy
Improves immune system
Improves creativity
Improves mood
Improves memory
Improves Brain function
Reduces risk of chronic diseases like:
Cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Depression
Obesity
Reduced risk of stroke
Reduces stress
Incorporating Faith into Your Walk
My main walking time is typically outdoors, around my neighborhood, with a dog and a baby in tow. Our walks range from 40-75 minutes depending on the weather and the baby boy.
Praying and listening are my personal favorite things to do on walk. Asking God for wisdom and then taking time to be quiet and listen for answers.
Another option is to listen to the Bible on audio. My YouVersion Bible App allows me to listen to a few translations right from my phone. You’ll definitely get some double takes from other pedestrians (especially if you’re blasting some Old Testament sacrificial laws on full volume) but hey, maybe you’ll get a chance to share the gospel!
Start Walking in Faith
We talked about the benefits of 30 minutes of walking, but start with what feels right to you! Any amount is better than none!
And the same could be said for prayer… or Bible reading. Maybe 30 minutes seems like a huge amount of time to read or pray. Start with 5 or 10 minutes, just go around the block. I promise the benefits of getting to know your Heavenly Father far outweigh the perks of exercise. If you don’t believe me, you haven’t tried it yet!
Take a walk today with an open heart and an open mind.
