I sat on the couch, computer open, doing homework and drinking tea. Despite the warmth of the house, I could feel a slight cold draft coming through the picture window behind me. It seemed like a great night to stay at home. But it was a Wednesday, and in an hour, I would have a group of 15 youth gathered, ready to face the cold and pray on the streets.
The idea of prayerwalking for us started in January of 2006 with a youth retreat speaker. We began prayerwalking downtown with Java 101 as a base. A group of us prayerwalked at the community college. Over the course of the next year and a half, what started as just a few of us going out a night or two a week developed into a ministry that included many passionate young people and even a few adults. We called ourselves LIVEWIRE: Living In View of Eternity: Walking, Interceding, Reclaiming, Evangelizing.
But that night, I didn’t want to leave home. It seemed so much easier to call one of the youth and have them lead. I didn’t want to walk in the cold, I didn’t want to pray.
But, knowing my responsibility, I finished my homework, got bundled up, and drove out to church to encourage and challenge the youth, split the team into small groups, and go out and pray.
After prayerwalking downtown, my team of three met up at the appointed time with several other teams on the corner of Lincoln and Mill, we stood in a circle, stamping our legs to stay warm, and we joined together in crying out for our city. We finished, gave each other high fives, and went our separate ways, stirred up about what God was doing through our prayers.
Almost every week was the same struggle. I never felt like going out, but I was always so glad I did.
Anticipation of tonight’s plans brings me back to the same struggle. We are participating in an “urban outreach” here in Cali with the church, and the reality is that I’d rather stay home. But I’m not staying home… I’m going with the anticipation of all that God will do.
Will you pray for us tonight?