Something about hiking helps me pray. It's a perfect time to absorb and enjoy the stunning creation around me while praising and worshiping God. For me, the hike itself becomes active worship, a way to engage my body, heart, and spirit in prayer. I live in the lower peninsula of Michigan, so I don't have mountains in my backyard. So whenever I travel, I seek out foothills or mountains in the area with short trails that I can explore in an afternoon.

Last fall, I hiked a trail in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico. This range got its name because it looks like a large pipe organ. I found a trail with a perfect mix of easy walking and moderate climbing, just right for my middle-aged body to manage well, if not always gracefully. Along the way, I prayed. With each step, stumble, and occasional awkward trip, my breathing became a rhythm of silent prayers. Pausing to behold some breathtaking view, I praised God for the beauty and majesty of his creation. By the time I finished my descent, the sun was setting over the mountain range, and I had spent an entire afternoon worshipping God with my whole being.

Praying with our whole bodies

We don’t need words to pray. Just like I did on that trail in the Organ Mountains, we can use our whole bodies to express what is in our hearts. At times when our grief is too heavy or our joy too overwhelming, the movement of our bodies may become unspoken prayer. We can pray by kneeling in reverence, lifting our hands in surrender, dancing with joy, clapping our hands, exercising, walking, and so many other ways. Our bodies speak praise and prayer when words cannot, even if they feel undignified or clumsy.

The Bible is full of examples of body movement—walking, dancing, and even lifting hands—as forms of worship and prayer:

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp (Psalm 149:3).

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6).

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).

One of the most striking examples of praying and worship with the whole body is a story about King David. “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all of his might…” (2 Samuel 6:14). The king of Jerusalem threw his whole person into his praise and worship of God! When his wife, Michal, chastised him for his exuberant display, David responded by saying, “I will become even more undignified than this!” (2 Samuel 6:22). David understood that worship and prayer are not about looking dignified, but fully surrendering to God.

David's dancing reminds us that prayer and worship are not always neat or controlled. Prayer reflects obedience, openness, and surrender, giving God our all—our whole minds, hearts, and bodies. It might not appear polished or graceful. It might make onlookers react with concern. Like Michal, it might even make them blush. That is why I love to pray on a hike or a walk. Sometimes, I just have too much energy, and my emotions feel too big to sit still with my hands folded on my lap and my eyes closed in a still posture.

Praying with the five senses

Whole body prayer is not reserved for moments of great joy or deep sorrow. We can pray and worship with our whole beings on any occasion. When I walk and pray, I use my five senses to keep my prayers focused. Feel free to use this suggestion to guide your own whole-body prayers:

Sight: “Lord, help me see you in all things.” With each step, I silently acknowledge that God is with me. I focus on the colors and shapes to see God’s creative goodness. I reflect on the day, the things I'm grateful for, the challenges I face, and the people in my heart whom I love.

Hearing: “Speak Lord, for I am listening.” As I walk, I listen to my breathing, the sounds of the birds, the murmur of running water, and I surrender my worries, hopes, and plans to the Lord.

Touch: “Lead me, Lord.” My mind easily wanders to tasks and to-do lists, so I focus on the feeling of my foot in my sock, the trail beneath me, the wind on my face, and the sun on my back. These sensations bring me back to the moment and my prayer time.

Smell: “Breathe on me breath of God.” The scent of the air and wet earth remind me to breathe in deeply. As I inhale God’s love, peace, and grace, I exhale all that distracts me. Read more about Breath Prayer here.

Taste: “You satisfy my soul.” When I pause my walk to sip water or nibble some trail mix, I remember that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17), who provides for me. This simple act of drinking water or munching some nuts becomes a pause to thank God.

An invitation to move and pray

The next time you find yourself short on words, get up and move. Pray with your five senses. Take a walk, lift your hands, kneel, or—if you are able—dance. What do you see, hear, feel, touch, or taste? Let your body and senses help form your prayer, even if it feels undignified and clumsy. Prayer is not just about what we say; it's how we live, breathe, and move before the Lord. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, and however you are praying, know that God is near, listening and delighting in every step you take with him.