Whatever You do, Don’t Stop Praying!
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day—Luke 2:37 (ESV)
For Insight
Once her husband died the prophetess Anna did not stop praying and worshiping God through fasting. She had been a widow from the time she was young until in her eighties. It was a rarity for a woman to have a place at the outer courts of the temple but that is where she lived until she died and that is where she met the Savior.
Anna is a beautiful example and inspiration for us when it comes to persevering in prayer. She was woman of prayer. She must have been a wonderful women’s counselor but also amazing at spreading the message of the One who was to come. The Scriptures say even after she met the Messiah, she spoke of him to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Can you think of a bigger honor or more humbling experience than to meet Jesus after you have been persevering in prayer? After you have spent time fasting or worshiping?
Persevering in prayer pays off. When we commit to persevering in prayer, trusting God to fulfill his promises in our life and circumstances we have to be willing to take our eyes of the clock, stop holding God to a “limited-window-of-time” response. Anna’s life reminds us that we should never give up, never stop hoping, never stop looking for the Lord to fulfill his promises. He came to Anna that day but he comes to us also bringing his healing, peace, comfort, strength wisdom, whatever it is we have been on our knees about. God will do what he promises but he’ll do it in his time, his own way.
Jesus sometimes we read about someone like Anna and feel a tinge of godly jealously but then we realize you have come to us in our lifetime also. Each time we pray and experience answers to those prayers it means you have revealed yourself to us also. Thank you, Jesus for answering prayer and coming close. Amen
Advent Mindfulness
Resume a prayer concern you let fall away once it seemed God was not going to answer it. Resume praying with an Advent hope and spirit of Anna, the prophetess.
Devotionally Yours 