MAKE WAY FOR THE KING 6-DAY DEVOTIONAL
Day 1 – Recap: The King Has Arrived
Scripture: John 12:12–13 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowd responded with excitement. They waved palm branches, shouted praises, and called Him King. It looked like a powerful moment of faith. But underneath the celebration was a misunderstanding.
They were celebrating Jesus—but not fully understanding Him.
They expected a king who would fix their circumstances. They wanted freedom from Roman rule. They wanted immediate change in their situation. But Jesus came to do something deeper. He came to deal with sin, to bring salvation, and to transform lives from the inside out.
It’s easy to look at the crowd and think they missed it—but we can do the same thing today.
We can celebrate Jesus when things are going well. We can praise Him when He seems to be moving in ways we like. We can even say the right words in church. But the real question is whether we truly understand who He is and what He came to do.
Jesus is not just someone to cheer for—He is someone to surrender to.
This passage reminds us that it’s possible to have emotional excitement about Jesus without having real commitment to Him. The crowd’s praise was loud, but it wasn’t always lasting.
God is not just looking for people who will celebrate Him in moments—He is looking for people who will follow Him with their lives.
Reflection Questions
Have I ever been more excited about what Jesus can do for me than who He is?
Is my faith based on emotion, or is it rooted in truth?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help me to see You clearly and not just respond to You emotionally. Teach me to know You for who You truly are.
Action Step
Spend time today thanking Jesus not just for what He has done, but for who He is.
Day 2 – Biblical Depth: The Kind of King Jesus Is
Scripture: John 12:14–15 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem randomly—He entered intentionally.
He chose to ride on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9. This wasn’t just a detail—it was a declaration. Jesus was revealing the kind of King He is.
In ancient times, kings rode horses when they were going to war. They rode donkeys when they came in peace. By riding a donkey, Jesus was showing that He was not coming as a political conqueror. He was coming as a Savior.
This is where many people misunderstand Jesus.
We often want God to move in powerful, dramatic ways. We want Him to fix problems quickly, remove struggles instantly, and change situations immediately. But Jesus often works in ways that are humble, quiet, and unexpected.
He comes to change hearts before He changes circumstances.
The crowd saw the donkey—but many didn’t understand the message. They were still looking for a different kind of king.
Today, we have the same choice. Will we accept Jesus as He reveals Himself, or will we try to reshape Him into what we want Him to be?
True faith begins when we stop trying to define Jesus—and start submitting to Him.
Reflection Questions
Have I been expecting Jesus to work in a way that fits my expectations?
Am I willing to accept Jesus as He is, even when it’s not what I expected?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, help me to trust Your way of working, even when it looks different than what I expected.
Action Step
Identify one area of your life where you need to trust God’s way instead of your own—and surrender it to Him.
Day 3 – Heart Reflection: Do I Really Know Him?
Scripture: Matthew 16:15 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
Jesus once asked His disciples a powerful question: “Who do you say I am?”
That question is still being asked today.
The crowd in John 12 had an answer—they called Him King. But their understanding was incomplete. They said the right thing, but they didn’t fully grasp what it meant.
It’s possible to say the right words about Jesus and still not truly know Him.
Many people today would say:
“Jesus is Lord”
“Jesus is King”
“Jesus is Savior”
But the real question is not just what we say—it’s what we believe and how we live.
If Jesus is truly King, that means He has authority over our lives. It means we don’t just ask Him to bless our plans—we surrender to His.
Knowing Jesus is not just about information—it’s about relationship. It’s about trust. It’s about obedience.
The crowd knew about Jesus—but many didn’t truly follow Him.
Today is a good day to pause and ask yourself honestly: Do I really know Him, or do I just know about Him?
Reflection Questions
Is my understanding of Jesus based on truth or assumption?
Does my life reflect that Jesus is truly King?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help me to know You deeply, not just know about You. Reveal Yourself to me in a real way.
Action Step
Spend time reading one Gospel passage today and ask God to help you see Jesus more clearly.
Day 4 – Personal Application: Moving from Words to Surrender
Scripture: Romans 10:9 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
Confessing Jesus as Lord is more than saying words—it’s making a decision.
Romans 10:9 tells us that if we openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. But that confession carries weight.
To confess Jesus as Lord means:
He leads
He decides
He rules
It means we don’t just invite Him into our life—we place our life under His authority.
The crowd in John 12 said the right things, but many didn’t follow through with real surrender. Their praise didn’t always turn into obedience.
That’s where many people struggle today.
We can say “Jesus is Lord” on Sunday, but live like we are in charge on Monday.
Real faith moves beyond words. It shows up in choices, priorities, and actions.
Confession without commitment leads to inconsistency. But when we truly surrender to Jesus, our lives begin to change.
Reflection Questions
Are there areas of my life where I’m not allowing Jesus to be Lord?
Does my lifestyle match my confession?
Prayer Prompt
Jesus, I confess You as Lord. Help me to live in a way that reflects that truth every day.
Action Step
Choose one area of your life (finances, relationships, habits) and intentionally submit it to Jesus today.
Day 5 – Community Focus: Influence Matters
Scripture: John 12:17–18 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
The crowd grew because people were talking.
Those who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus were telling others, and their testimony drew more people to Him. This reminds us that our witness matters.
People are influenced by what they hear and what they see.
Some followed Jesus because of genuine faith. Others followed because of what they heard. But either way, someone’s testimony played a role in bringing them closer.
That’s still true today.
Your story can point someone to Jesus. Your life can make someone curious about Him. Your words can open the door for someone to take a step toward faith.
But the opposite is also true. If we are not intentional, our silence can keep someone from hearing about Jesus.
God uses ordinary people to share an extraordinary message.
You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to share what Jesus has done in your life.
Reflection Questions
Who has influenced my faith journey?
Who can I influence for Christ?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, give me boldness to share my story and point others to You.
Action Step
Reach out to one person today and share something God has done in your life.
Day 6 – Faith in Action: Choose Your Response
Scripture: Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
Devotional Thought
In John 12, everyone responded to Jesus—but not everyone responded the same way.
Some praised Him.
Some followed because of what they heard.
Some were confused.
Some resisted Him.
That truth hasn’t changed.
Every person has to decide how they will respond to Jesus.
Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose today whom you will serve.” That choice is not just a one-time decision—it’s a daily commitment.
You can admire Jesus without following Him.
You can listen to sermons without surrendering.
You can be around faith without living it.
But at some point, you have to choose.
Will you make way for the King in your life?
That means:
Letting Him lead
Trusting Him when it’s hard
Obeying Him even when it costs something
Faith is not just what you believe—it’s what you do with what you believe.
Reflection Questions
What is my current response to Jesus?
What step of obedience is God calling me to take?
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help me to choose You daily and to live out my faith with courage and consistency.
Action Step
Take one clear step of obedience today—something you’ve been putting off—and follow through.