Picture a person in prayer. What’s the first image that comes to your mind? I think the first images are very stationary—hands folded, eyes shut, kneeling or sitting. As I venture out further, I see that prayer is also something that moves. Jacob wrestled. David danced. Paul sang. Last Sunday, over 100 gathered around St. John’s—walking and cycling—taking their prayers into the streets.

Many people who participated in last week’s prayer walks and bicycle rides saw their surroundings from a different vantage point. The same neighborhoods we drive by or pass through on the train look different when you’re on your feet. You notice things. And when you get on your feet and start moving with an eye and heart for prayer, you notice even more.

This week, we begin a new season of Sunday morning classes for children and adults. It’s an opportunity for a different kind of prayer walk—through God’s Word. Classes of all ages and topics will learn how Jesus wants to move us into action and put His Word into practice. (See our web site’s “Fall Sweeps” section.) As we take a new look at God’s Word from different vantage points, we pray He will open our eyes that we may see where and how He is calling us to serve.

A familiar Gospel reading puts us on the move too, but not where we might expect. We read these words, “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’” (Mark 9:35)  As I read them again after sharing a powerful experience of prayer in motion, I notice something in Jesus’ words I hadn’t before. It is as if he said to me, “let’s sit down for this one! Check out the view from the back, I find it a great place to serve.”

There are countless situations where we feel unnoticed, unappreciated, resigned to the back of the room. There are other times where we feel so far behind in work or expectations that we feel “backed-up, overwhelmed and failing. There are painful times when we grieve being passed over for a promotion or an opportunity. There should be no doubt, however, that the “back of the line” never escapes God’s notice. In fact, he delights to be with those in the back.

My prayer experiences this past week have challenged me to notice more of the people and places I pass by and to pray on the move and with those who fear they are barely moving, barely noticed.  When you move to the back—not because of setbacks—but because your prayers take you there, the view is amazing.

I strongly encourage all of you to keep putting your prayers in motion! Keep a prayerful eye on the people and places around you. Engage in one of our Bible studies. Bring your children and teens to Sunday School and youth classes because every time we read and study and pray together, we Meet Jesus!