40 Days of Prayer – Youth Devotional Day 5

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST ACTS 1:9–11  

Have you ever encountered something difficult that left you saying, “I don’t get it. Why is  this happening?” Often, it’s hard to grasp what God is up to when things happen that leave us  wounded or when life is overwhelming and we can’t help but feel anxious.  

Jesus’ closest friends spent years with Him—walked with Him, heard Him teach, watched  in awe as He performed miracle after miracle. Think about the fun you have with your best  friends. That’s what the disciples had with Jesus. And then Jesus told them He was going  to die.  

Jesus died to pay for the sins of the world and defeated Satan and darkness forever. His  friends and followers didn’t understand, and they were devastated. But Jesus didn’t stay  dead. Conquering death, Jesus came back to life! He returned! And then He told them He  had to leave again. The disciples watched as Jesus disappeared into the sky.  

“Why is He leaving? He just came back,” they must have thought.  

Little did they know, this was a launching pad for the explosion of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus had  told them it was better for Him to leave so that “the Helper” could come. Ten days later, the  Holy Spirit came in their midst and filled them.  

Even today, we receive the Holy Spirit when we come to faith in Jesus (see Acts 2:38). Jesus  physically left the earth, but now inhabits His people by His Spirit. 

PRAYER POINTS: 

1. The glory of Christ is displayed in His power, His love for us, and His  goodness even when we don’t understand what He is doing. Ask  God to reveal Himself to you in new ways today.  

2. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you place your trust in Him.  

3. Ask that the Lord will help you place all of your hope in Him and  nothing else.  

»by Kate Balon