"There was also a prophetess named Anna... She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying" (Luke 2:25-37) "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength..." (Isa 40:31) One of the hardest thing to do is waiting. We normally detest any moment or occasion that requires us to sit idly on a bench for hours or stand in a queue waiting to meet someone or collect something. It is crushing, boring and tormenting. Thank God for Smart phones and social media. At such oddly times we bring out our phone, and bury ourselves in the virtual worlds of likes and comments and shares as the minutes turn into hours. Waiting takes discipline, and self control; something that is apparently lacking in our generation today. This is why the church is growing weaker and weaker, because we have neglected the divine command to WAIT!.
The story of Anna the prophetess in Luke 2 is an interesting and inspiring one. According to the scripture, Anna was married but lived only seven years with her husband before the cold hands of death snatched him away from this world. From that moment, she resigned herself to a life of devotion in the Temple and lived another eighty four years as a widow; and the Bible records that she never left the Temple but served God with fasting and prayers, night and day.
It is amazing how the Bible says that she served God with prayers and fasting. The church is lacking people who serve God with prayers and fatings. These days we have "prayer warriors" who pray just to fire the devil, or "send their problems back to their enemies" or just for one selfish reasons or the other. How come we don't worship God with prayers and fastings anymore? Why can't our prayers be an avenue to get to know God more? Why can't we wait in prayers and fasting for God's touch and anointing? Why is everything about the devil and our enemies? Anna served God with prayers and fasting! I can imagine this great woman of God praying and fasting day and night in tears for God's presence. Little wonder God kept her alive till she saw the arrival of Jesus, just like Simeon the High priest
Today, we have millions of excuses why we can't find time to pray. if it isn't for too much domestic chores, it would be school runs, or financial stress, or career pressures and many other ill excuses. While God is at the other side waiting for us to come, we are busy pursuing other things. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. As this month is running out and we are launching into a new month soon, I challenge you to find a day this coming week and wait on God concerning next month. Listen to what God says to you today:
"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer 29:13)
God bless you!