March 17
Luke 2:36-52
ANNA
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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Can you imaging spending your life in fasting and prayer-day and night- at the church?
That is what this woman had done for what must have been decades!
She was waiting and praying. Praying and fasting, all those years......and then finally~! There He was~ the little Messiah, all wrapped up in blankets, being brought to the temple to fulfill the law.
She knew, because of her close relationship with God the Father, that this little one was the one who would redeem Israel. Her devotion to fasting and to prayer had given her a discernment and heightened sense of the presence of God. And here He was , wrapped up in this little child!
What joy she must have had! And how determined she must have been to share His identity with any and all who would hear her!
We may not be able to spend every moment of the day and night at church, praying and fasting; but we will grow cold to Him if we do not make room for Him in our lives.
It is so vitally important that we, like Anna the prophetess, cultivate a rich relationship with God!
That intimate relationship with God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Savior, will enable us to experience the move of the Holy Spirit in our lives and to see Him in those who belong to Him!
Return to Nazareth
39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.Visit to Jerusalem
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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Can you imaging spending your life in fasting and prayer-day and night- at the church?
That is what this woman had done for what must have been decades!
She was waiting and praying. Praying and fasting, all those years......and then finally~! There He was~ the little Messiah, all wrapped up in blankets, being brought to the temple to fulfill the law.
She knew, because of her close relationship with God the Father, that this little one was the one who would redeem Israel. Her devotion to fasting and to prayer had given her a discernment and heightened sense of the presence of God. And here He was , wrapped up in this little child!
What joy she must have had! And how determined she must have been to share His identity with any and all who would hear her!
We may not be able to spend every moment of the day and night at church, praying and fasting; but we will grow cold to Him if we do not make room for Him in our lives.
It is so vitally important that we, like Anna the prophetess, cultivate a rich relationship with God!
That intimate relationship with God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Savior, will enable us to experience the move of the Holy Spirit in our lives and to see Him in those who belong to Him!
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