6 Palm Sunday Prayers
Use these Palm Sunday prayers during Holy Week to pray adoration, triumph, and anticipation for Jesus, our King, as we see the significance of His journey to the cross.
What Is Palm Sunday?
The countdown to Easter Sunday begins the Sunday before Easter, which is known as Palm Sunday. It is the day that begins Holy Week going all the way from Maundy Monday to Easter Sunday.
The event that Palm Sunday is connected to is Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The reason this event is significant is because it is the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9.
Which says, “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.”
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt, He was making a public claim as the Messiah and long-awaited King of Israel that this Old Testament prophecy told of. He came as a lowly servant King, and His triumph was not for an earthly kingdom but a spiritual one that would outlast this world.
And we see the enthusiasm of the people who gathered around Him to lay their clothes and palm branches before Him, welcoming Him into the city like royalty, and shouting His praise saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
If you are looking for Palm Sunday prayers to pray at church, during a small group, Bible study, or in your home, you can use these Palm Sunday prayers to focus Your eyes on Christ’s journey to the cross.
Palm Sunday Prayers
1. A Palm Sunday Prayer Of Celebration & Triumph
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Heavenly Father,
We come to You on this Psalm Sunday with hearts that are filled with gratitude. If it weren’t for Your love, and mercy towards us, we would not be here at all. As we reflect on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we cannot help to think of all that lay ahead during that Holy Week.
Though many beatings, accusations, and ultimately, the cross awaited Christ, He kept His eyes fixed on the purpose for which He came. He remained faithful and obedient to You, and what You had sent Him for. We never have to know that death because Christ experienced it for us, and has made us partakers in His triumph.
So we bring joyful celebration and praise to You this day, Lord. We celebrate the person and work of Christ. Please remind us that despite our troubles and struggles in this world, we can take heart, and have hope knowing that He has overcome the world.
May we live in the light of the triumph of Christ, not only on this earth but for all eternity. In Jesus’ name, amen.
2. A Prayer Of Thanks For Jesus’ Journey To The Cross
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. – Galatians 6:14
Lord,
How can we even begin to thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross? We know that words cannot begin to express our gratitude or the magnitude of His work, yet we ask that You receive these humble words. As we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem all those years ago, we are reminded of a plan that began even long before that.
It was not when Jesus entered Jerusalem that His journey to the cross began. It was not even when He took on flesh and became like one of us. Before the Garden of Eden, and before the fall of man, You purposed for Him to be the Savior that we would so desperately need.
May we never boast in anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified in our place, and took our sins upon Himself. In His victory, we boast today.
Through Him, we bring You praise, and for Him, we give You thanks! Because of His obedience, we who were enemies now have been welcomed as children. Thank You, Lord, for this wonderful truth.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
3. A Prayer Of Adoration – Hosanna In The Highest!
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!” – Matthew 21:9
Father,
We bring You praise and honor! Just as those who gathered to witness Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem, we are gathered to reflect on His triumphant entry and the week that led to His sacrifice on the cross. We thank You for His entry into our lives and for taking us from death to life.
May our hearts sing hosanna to the promised Seed who would crush the head of the serpent. May we sing praises to the Son of David who so many anticipated, yet who we get to know personally.
May our hearts be filled with adoration as we look to Christ our King, and look forward to His return. Just as they shouted, we too proclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
May Christ truly be blessed in our hearts. We ask that You remove any barriers or idols that have taken His rightful place in our lives. As we prepare for Holy Week, we ask that You would prepare our hearts. Please grant us eyes that are focused on You and hearts that are satisfied in You.
May You be blessed here on earth as You are in heaven.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
4. A Prayer Of Anticipation – The King Is Coming!
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.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. – John 12:14-16
Heavenly Father,
As we look back on the events of Palm Sunday, we can only imagine what it was like to see Christ entering into the city. Those who surrounded Him and laid their clothing and palm branches before Him were not only welcoming a person, but the King.
They were part of that Old Testament prophecy and witnessed the arrival of the servant King, Jesus Christ.
Though we are many years removed from this event, we too live in anticipation of the coming and return of our King. We are humbled to know that You have loved us, and chosen us. Thank You for the gift of salvation, and for transferring us from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Your beloved Son.
We ask that You remove the distractions of this world from our minds, and place Christ and His return at the forefront of our thoughts. May we live not as those who have no hope, but whose hope is in Christ. Help us to live with His return in mind, and grow our anticipation and joy as we look forward to our King who is coming back.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
5. A Prayer Of Praise For A Counter-Cultural King On A Donkey To Change The World
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. – Zechariah 9:9
Lord Jesus,
As we celebrate this Psalm Sunday, we thank You for the exemplary life that You lived on earth. Though You owed us nothing, You gave Your life so that we could find ours in You. Though You created all things, You chose to humble Yourself and leave Your place at the right hand of the Father to live among us.
Even as You entered the world, You did not do so with earthly power or human wisdom. Instead, You came in the form of a child, mild and meek. You took on flesh and experienced hunger, tiredness, and sorrow, becoming our great High Priest who sympathizes with us.
Your entry into Jerusalem reflected that humility. You did not enter on a war horse but the foal of a donkey, as a King who would bring peace and salvation. And You did just that. We bring You glory for Your wisdom and ways that are higher and greater than this world’s. In Jesus’ name, amen.
6. A Prayer Of Confession
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
Father,
We come to You confessing our sin against You. So often we forget to give You the highest place and honor in our hearts. It is so easy for us to be caught up in the busyness of our own lives, in our pleasures and the earthly treasures that we have stored up for ourselves.
Just as those who gathered around You during Palm Sunday, who were there during Your victorious entry into Jerusalem, but seemed to be gone when You hung on the cross. We too are fickle like that, and forget to turn to You at all times and in every circumstance.
Please forgive us for our self-reliance and the many idols we worship each day.
Your Word says that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. We humbly ask for Your forgiveness of our sins, and for Your Spirit to fill us with a heart that is committed to You no matter the circumstances.
In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
