Ascend is a practice for those who are growing to live, love, believe, and behave like Jesus.
Using the rhythms of daily prayer and weekly conversation with others, Ascend invites us to reflect on how we are growing in three areas:
Gratitude
our response to God's grace
Surrender
our response to God's holiness
Calling
our response to God's love
Ascend in August
A month-long challenge to intentionally grow in prayer
Connect Daily
Connect daily with a simple method of prayer focused on gratitude, surrender, and calling. See below.
Gather & Share
At the end of the month, we will gather for a time of sharing to celebrate what God has been doing in our hearts and lives through this time of prayer.
Connect Daily
Each morning, we commit our day to God. We invite you to hold your hands in these specific postures as you pray your intentions to follow Jesus today.
Morning Prayer
I open my hands in gratitude because I live in Your grace. I will thank you for each good gift today. I will show grace to others as You shower grace on me. I want to live an open-handed life in a closed-fisted world.
I lift my hands as a sign that Jesus is my Lord. I surrender my preferences, prejudices, and position to You. I confess my sins, grudges, and brokenness to You. I pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in my life as it is in Heaven."
I hold my hands forward as a symbol of calling. I want to live for something greater than myself. I want to embrace your kingdom mission for my life. I seek the lost, last, least, and lonely to be restored in the kingdom of God.
I open my hands in gratitude because I live in Your grace. I will thank you for each good gift today. I will show grace to others as You shower grace on me. I want to live an open-handed life in a closed-fisted world.
I lift my hands as a sign that Jesus is my Lord. I surrender my preferences, prejudices, and position to You. I confess my sins, grudges, and brokenness to You. I pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in my life as it is in Heaven."
I hold my hands forward as a symbol of calling. I want to live for something greater than myself. I want to embrace your kingdom mission for my life. I seek the lost, last, least, and lonely to be restored in the kingdom of God.
Evening Prayer
For what am I grateful today? How have I showed grace and generosity to others today?
What have I relinquished today? What do I need to release today?
How have I embraced God's mission for me today? Whom have I helped draw closer to God's kingdom today?
For what am I grateful today? How have I showed grace and generosity to others today?
What have I relinquished today? What do I need to release today?
How have I embraced God's mission for me today? Whom have I helped draw closer to God's kingdom today?
Making a Pickle
Oct 18, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle • Luke 10:38-42
Created for Community
Oct 11, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle
Calling
Oct 4, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle • Ephesians 2:1-10
Surrender
Sep 27, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle • Isaiah 6:1-7
Gratitude
Sep 20, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle • Exodus 15:22-16:4
Rhythm of Restoration
Sep 13, 2020 • Rev. Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle • Philippians 3:7-14