Prayer for Palm Sunday

Dear God,

It’s Palm Sunday. 

Jesus arrived to a defiant city on a donkey to people shouting “Hosanna.”

       Enter my disobedient heart.

       Replace my pride with humility.

       Release me. Rescue me.

Form in me a deep desire to trust You more fully.

       Give me a faithful obedience to follow You whenever and wherever.

Forge in me the strength to listen to and respond to Your voice.

       May I say “yes” to Your plans and promises.

       May I say “no” to the competing shallow securities of this world.

Eliminate prideful attitudes that separate me from community with others 

       and distance me from closeness and intimacy with You.

Eradicate my behavior of constantly comparing myself with others 

       and teach me that my worth and value in life is a gift from You.

Rescue me from the double standard of singing “Hosanna” in worship 

       and shouting “crucify him” at work, with friends, and even at home.Release me from the hypocrisy of worshipping You with my words at church

       but denying You with my actions in the community.

Prevent me from holding on to habits that are harmful to me and hurtful to others.

       Let the destructive parts of my life die and disappear.

Prepare me for resurrection and new life that comes as a gift from You.

       Let reconstruction begin and make me alive again!

You entered a holy city to people waving palm branches and waiting for a King.

Enter my life to make me holy, victorious, and obedient to the King of all Kings.

Amen.