Look at Luke 2:37a: “and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple…” NKJV
Losing her support and fellowship from her husband was painful, but she did not become embittered. Sorrow can either soften our lives and make us compassionate and kind, or we can allow pain and sorrow to harden us into harsh and bitter people. Which way are you allowing your pains and troubles to shape your life?
She resisted the crippling attitudes of despair, disillusionment, and bitterness (Luke 2.37a). Anna had known pain, but kept on trusting the Lord as a “widow”.
Now look at Luke 2:37b: “… but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. NKJV
She stayed faithful and fruitful to the end of her life. Anna had grown old but kept on serving the Lord, as she “worshiped Him by prayer and fasting”.
Anna couldn’t get out anymore; she couldn’t travel, shop, visit, or get away. She was limited physically but unlimited spiritually. Notice that she never left the Temple. That means that she had a world that was only a portion of 40 acres big.
But her life was all about what she could do, not what she couldn’t do. She could excel in worship; she could offer her adoration to Him at any time, and that is about all we ever get to know about her from God’s Word.
Fasting is about me learning ways of denying my flesh; praying is me learning more ways of seeking God. So “fastings and prayers night and day” meant that Anna was on a course of less and less of her and more and more of God.
That is exactly what grace energizes us to do. As Paul said in Titus 2, grace leads us to deny ungodliness and look for Christ. Anna’s life was all about God, and she gave Him what she had time to pray and fast.
From GEW-23d – Anna – Living a Life of Praise (081130PM)
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