An Ascension Prayer Guide
“What do I do in this space?”
The first question that we can offer God in an opportunity like this is “How would you like to be with me in this space now?” And then wait to see how God might respond.
Here are some things you might offer to God:
Sit in silence and simply receive the love of God. Meditate on the flames, how they dance, their light and warmth, how the wood and flame interact.
Journal. Pour your heart out to God in written words.
Read one of the Gospels until God invites you to stop.
Intercede on behalf of individuals in your community or neighborhood.
Pray using some psalms as words you both receive from God and offer up to God.
Ascension
We are people of The Story.
We began Lent with Ash Wednesday and we entered into the wilderness with Jesus—with echoes of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness. We came to Holy Week. We washed one another’s feet as we heard Jesus’ new command, “Love one another.” We heard Jesus’ invitation to pray with him in the garden. And then we witnessed the horror of the cross, the defiant echoes of every generation of humans saying “No!” to God.
But then we found the empty tomb. We sat with the mysteriousness and disorientation of Easter morning. We joined the disciples as Jesus surprises them one moment after another.
And now, 40 days after the Passover feast, Jesus has one more surprise for his disciples. Here’s how the writer of Acts puts it:
Put your imagination to work. Where do you find yourself in this story? Take a pause with each verse. If you were to imagine making a film of this scene, where are you setting the camera? What tokens or faces or gestures do you find yourself drawn to? What’s the focus of the frame? Take your time to linger in the scene and engage all your senses.
As you are taking in this full scene, what emotions are you noticing? What feelings are rising in you? Are you inspired and impassioned by Jesus’ words about the Kingdom? Are you shocked when Jesus disappears? Are you angry at what the angels have to say?
Imagine a big “V.” At the top of one point is Ash Wednesday. The season of Lent is the journey downward. Not quite to the bottom is Holy Week, and Easter Sunday is the turning point. The season of Eastertide is the rise to the next point, with Ascension close to the end and Pentecost the very top that launches us into the next season of the calendar. In Ordinary Time, we live empowered by the Holy Spirit engaged in God’s mission healing the whole world.
The Anglican liturgy for communion each week tells the story, beginning with the love of God creating the world and leading with this climax: “As our great high priest, he ascended to your right hand in glory, that we might come with confidence before the throne of grace.” This echoes the language of Hebrews 8. There’s a whole lot that could be unpacked here.
The Ascension is every bit as important to the story as Creation, the Incarnation, and the Resurrection. This is a big deal. Because Jesus has defeated death and evil, he sits enthroned as King over all of creation. And this touches everything.
After Jesus disappears from their midst, the disciples wait for 10 days. What do you imagine they discussed together? What might their prayers have sounded like? What were they feeling? Was it taking longer than they thought? What were they desiring for themselves and from God?
There’s something special about anticipation. It could be a special day—like Christmas or a wedding. It could be a reunion with a separated friend or family member. Anticipation is also really hard because we want something we don’t have and there can be a sense of not being in control.
Tension. And release. This rhythm runs so counter to our culture of instant gratification. We’re so bad at waiting that we turn to AI for our questions and demand same-day shipping for our shopping.
For the 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost, we, too, find ourselves in a liminal space—an awkward in-between space—waiting for the Holy Spirit to do what only the Holy Spirit can do. We sit in the tension, yet not as those without hope. God’s promise is coming. Jesus is King and we can be filled with confidence.
What is something you are waiting on God to do?
What mix of grief and hope (perhaps something else) is there in your waiting?
If Jesus is indeed King, what difference does that make in your world?
What are you really desiring from God in this season?
What might God be shaping inside you in the liminal space?
A prayer for Ascension Day
Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven: May our hearts and minds also there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
A prayer for the Sunday after the Ascension
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.