Bethanie to Jericho Prayerwalk

This was the second prayerwalk where Marelise joined me, backpack, boots and all, for a prayerwalk. We drove out to the Brits area, in the North West Province. Our backpacks loaded with food for a few days, a tent and some spare clothing. We only had one arranged overnight stay (the first one) at a local farmer for the first evening. From there on we were on our own, walking into the open country-side. Just the two of us and Jesus, walking after a dream and searching for God's Father heart under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Just like spies

As the days of entering the Promised Land drew closer, Joshua sent spies to check out the land. And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” (Joshua 2:1a, ESV)

Very interesting that the farmer whom we stayed with told us he wanted to show us the route we would be walking. He took us in his bakkie (small truck) to the starting point. We then travelled on the same road we would be walking the next day. This is where it became interesting. According to the map we were to cross the Crocodile River. When we got to the turn-off, about 17km from the start, the road was closed.

Road closed due to flooding

We got out and walked to the bridge. Crossing the river at that point was important because the we saw it as part of the route we had to follow. Swimming across the river, was not a good idea. There was a crocodile farm just upstream and the strength and depth of the water mass were too dangerous. We decided that it would be safe to cross the bridge on foot the following day. We drove back with the farmer for dinner and a good night's rest before our prayerwalk would start.

Our first opportunity to witness and to talk about God was that evening around the dinner table. It is always fascinating to see how many opportunities you get to testify about God when you are walking in your identity of who God made you to be. We only got to bed way past midnight that night. It was a good evening of fellowship. Almost like having church around the table.

31 December - the last day of the year; the first day of the prayerwalk. We started walking in Bethanie at 06:30. Bethanie was the town where Jesus often retreated to. The place where He raised Lazarus from the dead. The place where Mary anointed Him.

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3, ESV)

The name of our final destination, Jericho, means "Place of Fragrance". But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (II Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

It was significant that we would cross over time and place. We crossed over into the new year (We started on 31 December 2013 and ended on 2 January 2014). We also crossed over the Crocodile river. We walked from a "place of misery" (Bethanie) to a place of "walls" and "strongholds" (Jericho). The total distance was 44,4km.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. (Isaiah 44:3-4, ESV)

Before we set off on this prayer trek, for three days in a row I woke up with clear and disturbing dreams. The dreams addressed the strongholds which we were to pray for:

1. Cultural strongholds
2. Religious strongholds
3. Strongholds of sexual sin
4. Strongholds of peer pressure

I read about God's heart and peer pressure in Exodus 23: “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Exodus 23:1-3, ESV).

Spontaneous church

On the way to Jericho, I passed a group of people who were sitting under a tree across from a liquor store. There was a lot of noise. Music blaring and people singing, shouting and talking. Someone shouted and pointed to me, gesturing with huge hand signals for me to come over. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to grab one of the empty crates lying around and to join the group. They obviously wanted to know what someone was doing walking through their village so far out in the country. I told them about the prayerwalk and my walk with God. They were very curious and it was as if the atmosphere under that tree just changed.

Suddenly we were having church! The walls came down.