Palm Sunday Prayers
On Palm Sunday, the faithful gather to remember and relive the welcome Jesus received, often involving the distribution and waving of palm branches. Amid these observances, prayer plays a pivotal role, reflecting on this day's profound meaning and preparing the heart and mind for the journey through Holy Week.
Palm Sunday prayers typically include the themes of humility, sacrifice, and salvation, offering believers words to express their adoration, gratitude, and petitions to God. These prayers are a way to connect with the path that Jesus embarked upon and reflect on His love, suffering, and victory over death. Whether used in personal devotion, family gatherings, or church services, Palm Sunday prayers deepen our spiritual experience, drawing us closer to the heart of Easter's meaning.
“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (John 12:13 ESV)
Prayer is our lifeline to the Father in heaven, the One True God. Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to earth to fulfill the will of His Father. Our Triune God remains with us through the incarnation of the Holy Spirit in every believer, made possible by Jesus’ death on the cross! The death and resurrection of Jesus was triumphant, indeed! Jesus was not the military conqueror king God’s people expected. Let us pray on Palm Sunday to rejoice in our Savior's kingship and victory!
Short Prayers for Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday offers a time for reflection and prayer, focusing on Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week. Here are a few prayers that can be meaningful to include in Palm Sunday observances:
1. Prayer for Humility and Praise
"Lord Jesus Christ, on this Palm Sunday, as we remember Your triumphant entry into Jerusalem, let us also remember the path that lay before You. Fill our hearts with the humility and faithfulness that You displayed. Teach us to follow Your example of selfless love, to praise You in our hearts and with our lives, as we carry our crosses daily. Hosanna in the Highest!"
2. Prayer of Thanksgiving for Jesus's Sacrifice
"Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came not as a conquering king but as a humble servant. On this Palm Sunday, we celebrate His victory over sin and death, paving the way for our salvation. Help us to live in gratitude for His sacrifice, reflecting His love and grace in all that we do. Amen."
3. Prayer for Spiritual Renewal
"O God, as we enter this Holy Week, renew our minds and spirits. Let the story of Jesus's entry into Jerusalem inspire us to welcome Him into our hearts anew. May the palms we wave symbolize our commitment to follow Him more closely, to live lives of service and compassion, just as He taught us. Guide us through this week to the joy of Easter morning. Amen."
4. Prayer for Peace and Justice
"Lord of Peace, on this Palm Sunday, as we remember Jesus's peaceful entry, we pray for peace in our hearts, homes, and world. Inspire us to carry forward the message of justice and peace that Jesus brought to Jerusalem. Empower us to be instruments of Your peace, advocating for the marginalized and working towards justice for all of Your creation. Hosanna in the Highest!"
5. Prayer for the Journey of Faith
"Merciful God, as we journey through Holy Week, help us to walk closely with Jesus. From the joyous procession of Palm Sunday to the sorrow of Good Friday and the ultimate triumph of Easter, remind us of the profound love You have for us, a love that endures all trials and triumphs over all adversity. Strengthen our faith and keep us faithful to You. Amen."
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More Prayers for Palm Sunday:
A Palm Sunday Prayer to Rejoice in Hope
Father, Palm Sunday is a reminder of the unexpected, yet fully anticipated, King of Kings. Jesus did not look like the Messiah Your people hoped for. The way He entered the Holy City of Jerusalem on that day, riding a young donkey as a significant sign of peace and fulfillment of prophecy, did not align with their expectations of a military conqueror. Much of our daily lives don’t align with our expectations, Father. So much of our lives don’t make sense. This Palm Sunday, let us embrace the unexpected entrance of our Savior, Jesus. He is Peace. Let us apply this incredible truth to our lives. Peace mattered to Jesus. He came to bring us Peace. He is peace. Father, how quickly we forget the Peace we possess in Christ! Remind us, minute by minute, as we navigate difficult days and trying times. Father, we need Peace to live life to the full, as Jesus died for us to live.
Thank Jesus for the Pain He Faced for Us
Jesus knew, riding into the Holy City amidst pomp and circumstance, what He would have to face in the coming days. How many of us wouldn’t continue on if we knew the worst possible ending was inevitable. He continued on to accomplish Your will, in peace, not panic. Though He passionately cried tears of blood, asking that there be any other way, He obediently and peacefully walked to the cross because it was the only way. We can walk through trouble, trial, and pain, because our Savior sustains us. He has already walked the most difficult path and died to defeat the death we deserve. All of the pain we experience on this earth is temporary, for those who embrace Him as Savior will be eternally with Him in heaven. No pain, no suffering, no sickness, no death. Imagine the peaceful parade, palms waving as He returns once again, to free us completely.
Pray for Purpose through Forgiveness
When we are hurting, struggling, or overwhelmed, Father, I pray we can embrace the scene of Palm Sunday, in all of its significance, in order to fuel a hope in us that will drive us on day after day, in peace-filled pursuit of Your purpose for our lives.
Father, we confess today our sins. Specifically, forgetting You. Neglecting to remember and let Jesus’ sacrifice resonate with us. Jesus, You are closer than we could ever possibly understand. We confess worry, for we know You say it does us no good. Even still, we worry and become anxious daily. We confess our lack of care and love for the others You have placed in our lives. Father, our Savior laid down His life for every one of us, centuries before we would ever walk the earth. In the same sacrificial way, let us be willing to take up our crosses daily and lay down our lives for the people You have placed in them.
A Palm Sunday Prayer for Joyful Worship
Thank You, Father, for the life You have given us. For the sun rising to start another day and the reminders of Your creation surrounding us. When we witness a beautiful mark of Your creative hand, let us recall that Christ was with You, too, when the world began and the sound of Your voice. He eventually came to Earth and watched the same sunrise we now see. He looked into the stars in the sky and now looks down upon us prayerfully, with love. With grateful hearts, we praise You, God, for who You are and who we are in You.
Let the Peace of Christ’s Palm Sunday entrance remain in our memories. When we are fearful and anxious, help us to recall the Peace in which Jesus rode into the city so soon after to be crucified. God our Father, help us to act in grace and peace in the face of fear, both known and unknown, knowing You are incredibly close. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Palm Sunday Scriptures:
Matthew 21:1-11 - Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
"As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Zechariah 9:9 - Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
John 12:12-19 - The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
Psalm 118:25-26 - Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.
John 3:16-17 - “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Cover Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Avel/Chuklanov
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Originally published April 05, 2022.
