Anna was a prophetess who lived in the temple, praying day and night for others. Holy Spirit tells us about Anna with only three scripture verses, but it is enough information to reveal her character, her love for God and the fruit of her life.
We read in Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Notice that Luke introduces Anna as a prophetess. A prophetess in biblical days was a women who faithfully proclaimed the Word of God. So, Luke is revealing to the reader that Anna was a women devoted to declaring the Word of God to others. She may have had a ministry in the temple encouraging and instructing other women who came to worship from the Hebrew Scriptures (Titus 2:3-4).
Luke goes on to say Anna was a widow of great age (84) and without any children. To be a widowed during that time period would mean a very difficult life for Anna, so we can assume that she probably lived a very hard and frugal life living on charity. Anna, however, didn’t let her lifestyle define her. As we have learned Anna was committed to God and served Him faithfully through fasting and prayer and ministering to others the truth of God’s promises. Her God defined her! Not her circumstances! Anna was a worshipper and through her relationship with God she discovered true prosperity. Because of her faithfulness God gave her the honor of seeing her Redeemer, Jesus Christ, when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple. Her eyes beheld “the redeemer!”
We too can live a committed life by being an example to others and not allowing our circumstances to define us. We can also know our Redeemer personally through our worship and through our faithfulness to Jesus. Serve Him by serving others! Sisters, we can begin by following Gods instructions found in Titus 2:3-4 by teaching and mentoring the younger wives and mothers how to be godly women in their homes loving their husbands and children, and most importantly, how to have a relationship with God. When we teach other women the importance of having a relationship with God, they will come to know him in supernatural ways no man or thing can do for them—and they too will discover true prosperity!
Journey With The King
Journey In His Word 