by Pastor Brian Petak
“When the disciples in Luke 11 asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (v. 1), He gave them a brief model or pattern for prayer – what we know as “the Lord’s Prayer.” It’s not some kind of magic formula, but a concise portrayal of the foundational truths that should be in our minds and hearts as we pray individually, as families, and as churches.”
~ Henry Blackaby, Experiencing Prayer With Jesus, p. 26.
Meditation
Think about what Jesus did for you as you read this out loud:
Oh heart of God, I see you nowhere as at Golgotha, where the Word incarnate reveals the justice and the love, the holiness and the tenderness of God in one blaze of glory. If any created mind would gladly see the glory of God, he need not gaze upon the starry skies, nor soar into the heaven of heavens, he has only to bow at the foot of the cross and watch the crimson streams which gush from Emmanuel’s wounds. If you would see the glory of God, you need not gaze between the gates of pearls, you only have to look beyond the gates of Jerusalem and see the Prince of Peace expire. If you would receive the noblest conception that ever filled the human mind of the lovingkindness and the greatness and the pity, and yet the justice and the severity and the wrath of God, you need not lift up your eyes, nor cast them down, nor look into paradise, nor gaze on Tophet, you only have to look into the heart of Christ all crushed and broken and bruised, and you have seen it all.
Charles Spurgeon, 19th Century English Pastor and Biblical Expositor – London, England
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
John 12:12-16
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Zechariah 9:9, 6th Century B.C.
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
“Lord, you are our Father and we are but dust and filth; you are our Creator, and we are the work of your hands; you are our Shepherd, we are your flock; you are our Redeemer, we are the people that you have purchased; you are our God, we are your inheritance. Therefore, do not be angry with us to correct us in your fury. No longer remember our iniquity to punish it, but chastise us gently in your kindness. Your wrath is kindled because of our demerits; but remember that your name has been pronounced over us and that we bear your mark and standard. And continue, rather, the work that you have begun in us by your grace, that all the earth might know that you are our God and our Savior. Amen.”
~ John Calvin, 16th Century Swiss Pastor, Author and Reformer – Geneva, Switzerland.
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare[a] is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
Isaiah 40:1-2
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
Grant, we ask you, Almighty God, that we who for our evil deeds are worthily punished, by the comfort of your grace, may mercifully be relieved, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer (1552)
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray, on this Palm Sunday, that you will welcome Jesus authentically and personally to be the King HE desires to be in your life.
- Church: pray, on this Palm Sunday, that our church will worship Jesus today with full hearts that know He came not to be a political king or a military king, but to ride into Jerusalem with humility to be the humble King that would defeat sin and death.
- Community: pray for those in our community who may be prompted to worship with us today, as we enter Holy Week, as well as next Sunday, Resurrection Day.
- World: pray for pastors and church leaders around the world who are preparing to enter and lead into Holy Week with reverence, awe and authentic worship.
Connect the Heart
Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:
- What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
- What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
- What is something you need to surrender to God today as you pursue greater intimacy with Him?
Benediction
As you close your time of meditation and devotion, receive by faith this blessing from God:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
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Content for our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting devotionals is adapted from several sources, books on prayer, meditations and liturgies, drawing heavily from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson (copyright 2024 by Crossway)