Day13

The Skit Guys are hilarious, but what difference does faithful prayer make in our lives? Today we’ll take a look at Anna.

Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free. Luke 2:36–38

I don’t think it was just a coincidence that Anna was at the right place at the right time. For she had so positioned herself that she was at the right place and the right time her whole life.  Her faithfulness to God in prayer allowed God to reveal greater insight through her. Faithfulness brings opportunities to you that are not given to the unfaithful. God takes pleasure in answering prayers that come from a faithful heart.

Anna had been a widow for many years. In her day, a widow had little status in society and was virtually helpless on her own. Anna spent her time, day and night, in prayer and fasting in the temple. As she prayed, she yearned to see the Messiah. God chose few people to encounter the Savior when He was born, revealing His Son only to those whose hearts were faithful and pure. Anna was one of those few.

Jesus would later say to His followers, “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear . . . it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matt. 13:16, 11).

Anna continued faithfully in prayer until her prayer was answered. The answer to her prayers did not come immediately. In fact, it came near the end of her life. But God honored her faithfulness in prayer. God’s redemptive plan to send the Messiah included answering the prayers of a humble widow named Anna.

Faithful praying may mean a lifetime of waiting to receive an answer. God is looking for those willing to be faithful in prayer continuing to pray and to believe until they see His answer. Are you willing to be faithful in prayer like Anna? If so, I believe you’ll see God’s “coincidences” happen for you to.

PRAY TODAY

• Pray that you would not give up in prayer for the lost. Specifically name the ones in prayer that you know do not yet have a relationship with him. If you don’t know at least 3 without Christ, pray that he would bring someone across your path this week that you can begin praying for.

• Pray that God would provide for our 2018 Ministry plan. Ask God to show you your part in accomplishing this great goal.

• Thank God for the 102 people’s lives saved on our Mexico Mission trip this past week. Pray that for their hearts to be good rich soil for the Gospel to take root. Pray that they would grow in their faith and that the excitement of these 102 lives would ignite a great movement in their community.