This week’s Scripture: Luke 2:21-40 NIV
My Thoughts: After reading today’s Scripture several times, I can’t help but wonder about the words introducing Anna into the happenings: “There was also……Anna.” It was like Anna just happened to be in the temple at the time. The truth is that Anna was a familiar person in the temple.
This week I’m spending time getting to know Anna.
Anna had been a widow for most of her 84 years. She may have lived in one of the rooms in Herod’s temple. We do know that Anna “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (v. 37) She had nothing to do but worship all day!
I try to always keep prayer and devotions at the beginning of my day before things begin to happen. Like everyone else, my days are crowded with activity. I am doing better at making time for studying Scripture DURING each day. Writing for this blog has certainly helped me stay focused and accountable for spending time in God’s Word each day. I cannot comprehend living a life so free that it could be totally devoted to worship and prayer!
Anna was married for seven years. She and her husband had no children. After only seven years of marriage her husband died. I can only imagine the anguish that Anna must have experienced. In the Jewish tradition she could have returned to her family or a husband’s brother might have taken on the responsibility of marrying her to provide for her and honor his brother. It’s not known what choices Anna had from the Scripture. We do know she chose to turn completely to God.
Instead of taking on an attitude of hopelessness and grief, Anna dedicated her life to God giving Him more attention than herself. I think Anna’s pain was so great that she knew only God could heal her hurts. She was more than willing to trust God to provide for her needs. God provided well for her as she lived a long time!
My heart is humbled by Anna’s devotion to praise and worship God; her trust in Him! Fasting and praying, fasting and praying. She waited patiently trusting that one day she would meet the promised Messiah.
Anna did not let her traumatic circumstances change her faith or her love for the Lord. She put God first and God honored her faith.
From Anna we can see that nothing should get in the way of worshiping God and accepting Jesus. There are no mistakes, sins or life situations that we can not overcome with His help.
Scripture I am thinking on today: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3 NIV)
My Thoughts: After reading today’s Scripture several times, I can’t help but wonder about the words introducing Anna into the happenings: “There was also……Anna.” It was like Anna just happened to be in the temple at the time. The truth is that Anna was a familiar person in the temple.
This week I’m spending time getting to know Anna.
Anna had been a widow for most of her 84 years. She may have lived in one of the rooms in Herod’s temple. We do know that Anna “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” (v. 37) She had nothing to do but worship all day!
I try to always keep prayer and devotions at the beginning of my day before things begin to happen. Like everyone else, my days are crowded with activity. I am doing better at making time for studying Scripture DURING each day. Writing for this blog has certainly helped me stay focused and accountable for spending time in God’s Word each day. I cannot comprehend living a life so free that it could be totally devoted to worship and prayer!
Anna was married for seven years. She and her husband had no children. After only seven years of marriage her husband died. I can only imagine the anguish that Anna must have experienced. In the Jewish tradition she could have returned to her family or a husband’s brother might have taken on the responsibility of marrying her to provide for her and honor his brother. It’s not known what choices Anna had from the Scripture. We do know she chose to turn completely to God.
Instead of taking on an attitude of hopelessness and grief, Anna dedicated her life to God giving Him more attention than herself. I think Anna’s pain was so great that she knew only God could heal her hurts. She was more than willing to trust God to provide for her needs. God provided well for her as she lived a long time!
My heart is humbled by Anna’s devotion to praise and worship God; her trust in Him! Fasting and praying, fasting and praying. She waited patiently trusting that one day she would meet the promised Messiah.
Anna did not let her traumatic circumstances change her faith or her love for the Lord. She put God first and God honored her faith.
From Anna we can see that nothing should get in the way of worshiping God and accepting Jesus. There are no mistakes, sins or life situations that we can not overcome with His help.
Scripture I am thinking on today: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3 NIV)
2 comments:
Judy,
It will be interesting to see where God takes you with this study of Anna. Like Enoch, not too much is said about her in scripture, but the mere fact that she is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke is a tribute to her importance in Biblical history.
I am curious, why did God lead you to Psalm 147:3 today? This is a very special verse to me and one I claim often. Perhaps Anna was among the brokenhearted after being widowed, perhaps too God blessed her faithfulness with this personal and up close glimpse at The Redeemer. Quite a blessing, eh?
Judy too
Good Morning, Judy! Psalm 147:3 is one that comes to my mind frequently as well. I think reading and imagining a great loss from personal experience, Anna’s sorrow and her turn to God for help brought it forward in my mind again. Oh, yes, wow, how God rewarded her for her devotion and trust in Him! Not much is said of her. I’m thinking the story about who she was, who she became and how she was blessed is why she’s there beside Simeon. Stay tuned. I also am anxious to see where I’m taken. Thanks for the message!
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