Today is Palm Sunday Eve, and I am thinking of my King.

Today we will gather branches from the palmetto palm in our yard.  I will arrange them for display on the porch in remembrance of Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem – that triumphant day before the darkest week when Jesus would pay the ultimate sacrifice for my soul.

But before I think too much about laying down palm branches, there are some other things I need to lay down if my heart is to be ready to worship.

I lay down the hurts cocooned in my heart that I have too long nurtured.

I lay down my expectations that life must be a certain way.

I lay down my right to seek payment for a wrong done to me.

I lay down my need to be recognized for service given.

I lay down the pride that so easily creeps into my heart.

I lay down my attachment to worry and fretfulness.

I lay down my wrong attitudes, my quick retorts, my impatience, my critical spirit.

I lay down my personal preferences, which sometimes keep me from love.

I lay these down because Jesus laid down His life for me.

Lord Jesus, be at home in my heart!

 

John 12:¹² On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Photo Courtesy of Pexel