What can I say about this book? There is so much to say! Literary masterpiece, written in prose full of energy and light. Contagiously fresh. Invitingly deep. On and on. The stuff of spiritual classics. Why are you able to write such a brilliant book, Mark? Because you actually live what you write. You walk. And walk. With God. At God speed. On the way. Via dolorosa, the path that leads to resurrection living. Thank you for taking me on the walk and teaching me how to walk better. I wish I lived closer to you so I could walk with you. Your book will have to do for now. And it does. Thank you.
DARRELL JOHNSON, retired pastor and professor; speaker; author, The Glory of Preaching; mentor; grandfather; lover of long walks
Mark Buchanan has done it againwritten something for one and all that is thoughtful, compelling, and practical: this is essential reading for those keen to come to a greater appreciation of the interplay between the interior life and our bodies.
GORDON T. SMITH, president and professor of systematic and spiritual theology, Ambrose University; author, The Voice of Jesus
Walking is as natural as wind or sky or breath. However, most of us engage in walking functionally and forcefully, moving swiftly from one location to another. The garage. The basement. The office. The sea. The mountain. The sanctuary. Thankfully, Mark Buchanan arrests us in our trek and invites us to slow down and notice our strides, our hearts, our pathways, and our destinations. At God speed, we listen, we remember, we heal, and we renew. Walk with God and be transformed.
STEPHEN A. MACCHIA, founder and president, Leadership Transformations; director, Pierce Center at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; author, Becoming a Healthy Church
When you go for a walk in the wilderness, it really helps to have a guide who has walked the way before. For almost twenty years, Marks words have served as a trusted guide helping me avoid pits and cul-de-sacs, and have encouraged me to keep on when Ive become disheartened. That this book is literally and metaphorically about walking makes it all the more helpful and appropriate for today. To quote Mark (who is quoting Tolkiens Samwise), I will go with you is the most helpful, comforting sentence one could ever hear, especially when the speaker follows through and does just that. All Marks books have been like that for me; his wisdom and shepherds heart have often been my traveling companions. Thank you, Mark, for going with us wherever our feet fall and helping us remember that we are not alone.
BRIAN DOERKSEN, songwriter; recording artist
In this beautiful, inspiring book, Mark shows us how the simple rhythm of walking can take us farther on the path of wholeness, joy, and God than we imagined possible. Poetic, poignant, and immensely practical, this book will change your life... one step at a time.
KEN SHIGEMATSU, pastor, Tenth Church, Vancouver; bestselling author, Survival Guide for the Soul
Oh, Buchanan and his sly genius. He is at once eloquent and earthy, challenging and comforting, prophetic and funny, and totally in cahoots with the Holy Spirit. In this book, Buchanan somehow makes an assault on our hurry-sickness feel like a long, restorative walk with a really good friend.
CAROLYN ARENDS, recording artist; author; director of education, Renovar
Mark Buchanan wants us to actually walkto put one foot in front of the other, and do it oftenbecause walking can be spiritual exercise. Walking, he says, is the way we keep pace with the three-milean-an-hour God. It is God speed. This book has the feel of strolling down the paths of, say, Spains Santiago El Camino pilgrimage or the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, retracing a few miles from The Pilgrims Progress, or walking in the footsteps of Abraham, Jesus disciples, and the lame man. Here is a chance to look at our walk with God as pedestrians rather than motorists.
LEE ECLOV, pastor; author, Feels Like Home: How Rediscovering the Church as Family Changes Everything
With his trademark lilt and languorous style, Mark Buchanan saunters, but never rambles, down an ancient track nearly lost to the Christian tradition. His is an invitation not to get in more steps but to slowly walk with God himself. This book is a good gift to the global church.
JARED BROCK, author, A Year of Living Prayerfully
Other Books by Mark Buchanan
David: Rise (a novel)
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More
The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath
Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul
Things Unseen: Living in Light of Forever
Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down
Your God Is Too Safe: Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Cant Control
ZONDERVAN BOOKS
God Walk
Copyright 2020 by Mark Buchanan
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Zondervan titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@Zondervan.com.
ISBN 978-0-310-29366-8 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-310-35584-7 (audio)
ISBN 978-0-310-41331-8 (ebook)
ISBN 978-0-310-36089-6 (international trade paper edition)
Epub Edition May 2020 9780310413318
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Any internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published in association with the literary agency of Ann Spangler and Company, 1420 Pontiac Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506.
Cover design: Studio Gearbox
Cover illustration: Kevin Hill Illustration | Shutterstock
Author photo: Sarah Buchanan Photography
Interior design: Denise Froehlich
Printed in the United States of America
20 21 22 23 24 25 /LSC/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook
Please note that the endnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.