Day 1: A King Who Comes Humbly
Scripture: 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.”
Reflection:
Jesus entered Jerusalem not on a warhorse but on a humble donkey—an unbroken colt that had never been ridden. This wasn’t weakness; it was intentional. Kings rode horses into conquered cities to display power. But the King of Kings came in peace, offering salvation rather than demanding submission.
Today, Jesus still comes humbly. He doesn’t force His way into your heart or demand you clean up before approaching Him. Yet He comes with full authority as King. The question isn’t whether He has the right to enter your life—it’s whether you’ll respond to His gentle invitation.
Application:
Where in your life have you been waiting for God to show up in power, when He’s already present in humble, quiet ways? Take a moment to acknowledge where Jesus is gently knocking, waiting for your response rather than forcing His way in.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that You come to me with gentleness and humility, yet with all authority as King. Help me recognize Your presence in the quiet moments and respond with an open heart. I invite You to reign in every area of my life. Amen.
Day 2: Praise That Goes Deeper
Scripture: Psalm 118:25-26 – “LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.”
Reflection:
The crowds shouted “Hosanna!” and quoted Psalm 118, but their understanding was shallow. They wanted deliverance from Rome, not transformation of their hearts. They praised Jesus for what they hoped He would do for them, not for who He truly was.
It’s possible to sing all the right songs, say all the right words, and still miss the heart of Jesus. The real question is: Do you praise Him for who He is, or only for what you hope He’ll do for you?
True worship isn’t about getting what we want from God—it’s about surrendering to who He is. When we praise Him only for His benefits, our worship becomes transactional. But when we worship Him for His character, His holiness, His love—that’s when our hearts truly align with His.
Application:
Examine your prayer life and worship. Are you primarily asking God for things, or are you spending time simply adoring Him for who He is? Today, spend time praising God for His attributes—His faithfulness, mercy, holiness, and love—without asking for anything.
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I’ve treated You like a genie rather than my King. Help me worship You for who You are, not just for what You can do for me. You are worthy of all praise simply because You are God. Amen.
Day 3: When Jesus Weeps
Scripture: Luke 19:41-42 – “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.'”
Reflection:
In the midst of celebration, Jesus wept. Not gentle tears, but loud, sobbing grief. He saw beyond the crowd’s excitement to their spiritual blindness. They were missing their moment of visitation—missing Him—and the consequences would be devastating.
Jesus wasn’t weeping over their political future or economic struggles. He wept because they didn’t recognize the time of God’s visitation. They had the Prince of Peace in their midst, yet they remained blind to Him.
Jesus still weeps today over hardened hearts, over those who delay responding to His invitation, over missed moments of grace. His tears aren’t about judgment—they’re about love. Like a parent watching a child make a destructive choice, He grieves over what could have been.
Application:
Have you been delaying a response to Jesus? Is there an area of your life you’ve kept closed off from Him? Don’t give Him a reason to weep over missed opportunities in your life. What decision do you need to make today?
Prayer:
Lord, break through any spiritual blindness in my life. Help me recognize when You are near and respond with an open heart. I don’t want to miss the moments when You’re drawing close to me. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen.
Day 4: Love That Runs Toward
Scripture: Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Reflection:
Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem—rejection, betrayal, torture, and death. Yet He rode toward it anyway. He didn’t run from the broken, hurting people who would soon shout “Crucify Him!” Instead, He ran toward them.
That’s what love does. It doesn’t wait for people to get their act together. It doesn’t demand perfection before offering grace. Love runs toward broken, hurting people who need to know the truth, and it surrenders time and time again.
Jesus rode toward a cross, not a throne. Toward nails, not applause. Toward a grave, not a palace. And He did it for them—and for you. The most beautiful truth of the gospel is that Jesus accepts you as you are, right now, in this moment.
Application:
Who in your life needs to experience the kind of love that runs toward them rather than away? Is there someone you’ve been avoiding because they’re messy or difficult? Ask God to give you His heart for that person and take one step toward them this week.
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for running toward me when I was still broken and lost. Thank You for accepting me as I am. Give me the courage to love others the way You’ve loved me—sacrificially, persistently, and without condition. Amen.
Day 5: He Is With You in the In-Between
Scripture: John 11:25-26 – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.'”
Reflection:
Before Jesus entered Jerusalem, He stood at Lazarus’s tomb. Mary and Martha were stuck in the worst moment of their lives, surrounded by death. But Jesus showed up and declared, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Where Jesus is, there is always hope.
Jesus doesn’t just meet us at the destination—He meets us in the mess. He’s present in the in-between moments when we don’t know how the story ends. He weeps with us, grieves with us, and walks through the valley with us.
You may be in an in-between moment right now—between diagnosis and healing, between loss and restoration, between fear and peace. Remember: Jesus isn’t just waiting for you at the end. He is with you right now, in this moment, offering hope and peace.
Application:
What “in-between” moment are you facing right now? Where do you need to trust that Jesus is present even when you can’t see the outcome? Write down your situation and then write these words over it: “Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Where He is, there is always hope.”
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that sometimes I can only see the death and difficulty around me. Help me remember that You are the resurrection and the life. You are with me in this in-between moment. Give me faith to trust that You know how my story ends, and that with You, there is always hope. Amen.
Closing Thought:
This week, we’ve journeyed with Jesus into Jerusalem—seeing through His eyes the crowds, the praise, the blindness, and the love that compelled Him forward. Real life with Jesus isn’t about appearances or perfect circumstances. It’s about recognizing when God comes near and responding with an open heart. Don’t miss your moment. Jesus is riding into your life today, offering peace, hope, and transformation. Will you let Him in?