“And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there” (Matthew 21:17).

Even Jesus did retreats.  There are times when we just need to get away.  Some never get away and some never join.  Do not take either of these roads but seek balance in your life.  Let the Lord lead you, whether in work and at rest.  The Lord will bring balance to our lives if we follow Him.

Lord, help me to understand that I need You to lead me in every aspect of my life.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I willingly work or rest according to what You give me to do.  Help me in all circumstances to become a person who is constantly in prayer.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go in order to live the life You are creating in me, in a way that is pleasing to the Father.

Holy Spirit, do not let me make excuses, nor go away from where You are leading me.  Let me not think only in terms of all that I need to do, but instead, take time for prayer and meditation.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Help me through all circumstances to work or rest as You direct me.  Help me to spend every day and night with You guiding me in all things.  Amen.

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”  (Matthew 21:15-16)

Children sometimes have more wisdom than adults.  They see things as they are.  That clear sight is often deformed by this age so that by the time they are adults, they are blind to the reality of the Lord.  Do not hinder the children.  Sometimes we too need to be reminded of reality through the clear sight of a child who marvels and wonders at the reality of the Lord.  Lose the matter in your eyes to see the truth of the Lord.

Lord, I do have a shortsighted view of the world.  I am often lost in the disorder of this age.  Help me to see as a child, who often sees more clearly.  You said that unless we had faith as a child, we would not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Teach me what this means and lead me so that I become what You are talking about.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life. Teach me to sing Your praise.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great compassion.  I am a child of God.  There are times to put away childish things, but there never is a time to stop being a child of the Heavenly Father.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to live into the life You have given me by grace through faith.  May I humbly walk with You all my days as You grow in me what You will.  Amen.

“And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

Jesus heals the sin-sick soul.  Jesus takes care of our infirmities.  Oh, we may have something that will limit us in this world, but even this has a purpose.  Do not be led by circumstances, but by the One who heals us of sin.  Our God has great compassion for those who are hurting.  Do you reach out and care for others as You want to be cared for?  Be guided by His grace and mercy.

Lord, the lies of this age mask the truth.  You have always cared.  You still care.  I may not understand the way of this world, but You have made clear that Your ways are not the ways of this world.  Though there are still those who are wounded, You have healed all who believe so that they may join with You in eternity. Help me to never lose sight of this simple thing so that I may always walk with You.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for You have prepared the way of everlasting life for me.  Help me to walk, even though it be with a spiritual limp.  Help me to see more clearly, for I have walked many portions of my life totally blind.  Lead me in the new life You have given me so that I may see a little more clearly each day and walk more boldly in the faith You have given me.  Help me to go out and see You heal others of spiritual blindness and impediments to faith.  Amen.

“When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:10-11).

Who is Jesus.  The crowds thought Him a prophet.  Yes, He is, but He is more.  He speaks the word of God because He is God the Son, the Word made flesh.  All the prophets spoke of Him.  He is the One who fulfilled prophecy.  He grew up in Nazareth, but He is from eternity and returned to eternity.  Take care with what you hear.  There may be truth in what is said but listen for the whole truth.

Lord, crowds go away with some of the truth, but often, real and whole truth takes a little more work to hear.  They were not wrong that day, but they were not right.  Jesus, You are the eternal One who came down and became flesh for our sake.  You took our sins upon You that we might inherit Your life as sons and daughters of God.  Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see so that we are not carried away by the crowds of this age.

Lord Jesus, in humility You walked to Your own death.  All the while, the crowds were anticipating something else.  Help me to follow Your lead and walk where You lead.  I do not know what is coming, but You do.  Help me to trust You above all things.  Lead me through the crowds of this age to stand in Your presence and be whom You are making me to be.  Lead me, Savior and Lord of all.  Amen.

“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.  Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:8-9)

People rally in crowds.  One never really knows what drives crowds.  That day there was much anticipation.  One week later, the anticipation was crushed.  What we hope for is often so much smaller than what God intends.  He, who knows all futures, is preparing a glory greater than any of us can comprehend.  Join in blessing the Lord but remain humble and trust Him day by day.

Lord, I become anxious and wonder where the crowds of this age are taking us.  I see them stirred up and I become stirred up.  Help me to look to You who, in that week, went to the cross.  At the time I would have wondered how that could be good, yet I know the only way I can become good is through the cross.  Help me to do what You instruct and spend less time trying to figure things out.

Lord Jesus, keep me from thinking like the crowd.  Help me to learn how to think like You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk in the way You know I need to walk.  Teach me how to live life.  Teach me how to go into the silent place, even when the crowds are shouting.  Guide me now and always to walk with You and learn from You.  You alone know what I need.  Help me to look to You alone.  Amen.

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their cloaks on them; and He sat on the cloaks” (Matthew 21:6-7).

The disciples did not know what they would find.  Jesus did.  The disciples obeyed Jesus, but they did not know what it would be like one week later.  Many, at that time, were expecting Jesus to become king.  He has always been a king.  He was coming to redeem those who believe.  The disciples lived each day and learned how to simply do what Jesus told them to do.  Should we be any different?

Lord, teach me to do things as You instruct me.  Many around me are prognosticating.  Help me to listen to You and follow Your instructions.  Take me from thinking in the way of the world and see how You have done things.  You walked with Your disciples each day and things unfolded as You planned.  Is it any different for me, Lord?  Is that not how my life is to be lived?

Lord Jesus, guide me to follow Your instructions.  Help me to cherish the day-to-day things that I do knowing that You are aware of all things.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You and obey all that You command.  Lead me to lay everything down before You, for all that I have, all that I am, belongs to You.  In the power of Your Holy Spirit, guide me this day.  Amen.

“And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.”  Now this took place so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey’” (Matthew 21:3-5).

The Lord prepares the way before each of us.  He knows what is needed.  Of course, the faithful children of Zion will grant the Lord’s request.  Of course, things unfold the way the Lord knows they will.  We guess, but He knows.  Come into the Lord’s presence – for that is what walking with the Lord means – and be guided by Him all the days of Your life.  He has given you His word to lead you on your journey.

Lord, I am often befuddled in this age and do not understand all that I need to do.  But I do know what to do.  I need to look to You and live the life You have set before me.  I have my ideas and thoughts about how things ought to be, but You know how they will be.  Lead me, Lord, so that I look to You for all things.  Guide me on the upward path to follow Your leading and walk with You, knowing that You are always with me.

Come, Lord Jesus; do not just be my guest, but lead me this day.  Through all the things that You know are coming, guide me to humbly walk under Your leadership and obey all that You command.  Help me to keep my eyes upon You so that, no matter what comes, I may proceed under Your guidance.  Let nothing hinder me from living as a child of God, one who is faithful to the call You have given me.  Amen.

“When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me” (Matthew 21:1-2).

Our God, who sees all things, past, present, and future (from our perspective), knows what will happen.  What is prophecy for us is simply His telling us how things will be in what to us is a future moment.  Jesus knew the circumstances and He knew the prophecy.  He had to come into Jerusalem on a donkey, a foal, upon which no one had ridden before.  He says, “Go.”  Will you follow the command of the Lord?

Lord, I marvel at these things.  I ask, “How do You know?”  You see all things.  You know all things.  Help me to come to the place where I realize that all things really are in Your hands.  Keep my eyes turned upon You.  Lead me out of the place of the doldrums of this age to see abundant life before me, living and moving along the path that You have set before me.  Guide me all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, with great purposefulness, You have accomplished all that is needed for our salvation.  Guide me now and always to walk forward on the path You have set before me, for You know what is coming and have prepared the way.  Teach me to trust in Your guidance and humbly to follow You obediently.  Through all that will come my way, help me to see more clearly each day.  Amen.

“They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”  Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him” (Matthew 20:33-34).

Lord, we want to see.  The Lord has compassion, and He will open the eyes of those who do not see.  It is the same now.  Many who see with human eyes only are blind.  There are those who are physically blind who see.  The Lord has compassion for us and desires that we not perish.  He wants us to turn to His salvation, see, and begin the journey of living into eternal life.  Come to the Lord and He will give you insight to see things as they are.

Lord, I am blind.  I am blind to compassion, mercy, and grace.  I am blind to the suffering around me.  I shield myself in my little world and seek the things I think will make me happy.  Lead me out of living just for this body, which will perish, so that I live for You and live this life unto the eternal life for which You created me.  Guide me out of this mess to see things as they are and live the way You created me to live.

Lord Jesus, heal my sight.  Seeing, let me see things as You would have me see.  Guide me up and out of worldly thinking to come to the place where I have compassion, grace, and mercy for others.  Through all that comes my way, guide me to become more and more like You, doing what the Father gives me to do.  Give me insight so that I see more clearly and live more faithfully.  Amen.

“But the crowd sternly warned them to be quiet; yet they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:31-32)

Crowds are always speaking an opinion that runs contrary to what the Lord is going to do.  Pay attention to what is said, not to follow, but to understand that we are often led by the crowd and not by our Lord.  Listen and learn.  Our Lord asks, “What do you want me to do?”  Ask Him and see what He will do.  Asking is not telling, so be bold and ask.  Has not our Lord said that we do not receive because we do not ask?

Lord, teach me to ask with the right motive.  Lead me in the direction of hearing what the crowd is saying so that I understand when it is You who is giving me the right answer.  There are people all around me who are in need of mercy.  Guide me to have discernment so that I humbly walk in the way of obedience to Your word amidst the cacophony of this world’s shouts.  Teach me how to be faithful to You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead all who believe in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me this day to humbly walk in the way of faith.  Shut my mind to the calls of the crowds of this age and open my mind to Your word of truth.  Guide me in the faith You have given me and help me to be bold in the call to serve others so that I am faithful to Your call.  Guide me, Jesus, in the way You would have me live today.  Amen.