Anna

Day 1

Anna
Her name means “favor” or “grace”

Her Character : Married for only seven years, she spent the long years of her widowhood fasting and praying in the temple, abandoning herself entirely to God. A prophetess, she was one of the first to bear witness to Jesus.

Her Sorrow: As a widow, she would probably have been among the most vulnerable member of society, with no one to provide for her financially or to take care of her if her health failed.

Her Joy: That her own eyes beheld the Messiah she had longed to see.

Luke 2:22 - 38
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Day 2
Anna’s life was much different from our today. It says she SERVED in the temple. That does not mean that she found something that was fun and volunteered once a week. She made herself open to whatever God had for her. She fasted and prayed night and day. She had an intimate relationship with God. Being a Widow would have made this harder for her. She was devoted, spending over 60 years in the temple. She recognized the Christ because she was in an intimate relationship with God. Learning his Word, fasting and praying and prophesying to the people. She was definitely in a place that would make this type of lifestyle much easier than working 40 hours a week, raising a family and running errands, going to sports, music or other events. Even though she never entered the actual temple, she still loved God and SERVED him.

Temples… what did they look like? Solomon built the first, elaborate, white limestone structure, inlaid with gold. The people wept when they saw the foundation for the new temple (Ezra 3:12 -13). Zerubbabel built the second. Herod the Great built the temple that Anna would have worshipped at. It was located in Jerusalem. It had four successive courts. Each one was more exclusive than the one before it. The outer court was known as the Court of the Gentiles. This was the only place for non-jews. This is where Jesus cleared the temple of the buying and selling. The inner court, divided into 2 sections, the Women’s Court and the Court of Israel. Anna would have worshipped at the Women’s Court. Jewish men were allowed in both courts, but only Jewish women were allowed in the Women’s Court. The Court of the Priests surrounded the actual temple building itself, but was only accessible to those of the Levitical priesthood.

Sometimes we allow our location to bind us from true worship. We can worship God anywhere. There are no earthly rules or restrictions. Find a place, be an Anna! From working with women, I have heard the following places were ideal to worship: bathroom, bed, backyard, in the vehicle, park, office, grocery store and even at the doctor office. Strange as it sounds, many women these days have decided to “spend” their time wisely. They have decided that no matter how hectic, they can worship without ceasing, anywhere, anytime. Now is the time to recognize your Savior, now is the time to worship Him and now is the time to Serve him.

Dear Lord, I thank you that you can still be in our chaotic days. You, in fact, can make those kind of days turn into the best ones we’ve had. I pray for those in this group to seek you no matter what, to stay devoted to you for all the days of their lives, to recognize you at all times. I pray that they become open to your Word and teachings and that they are willing to praise you even in the lonely times. Lord, as Anna was a widow, I ask that you comfort those today that have lost a loved one, those who are feeling lonely and those who wish to serve you, will you fill in the gap, be their husband, father, friend. Will you show them that they were created by your hand and that you desire them to seek you and know you and love you. I am in awe of you. This I pray in your son, my savior’s name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Day 3
Anna has a legacy in Scripture.
Read Luke 2:22 - 38 (from Anna day 1, or go to http://www.biblegateway.com/)
What does their careful observance of the Law of Moses tell you about Joseph and Mary?
What about your life reveals your Christian Commitment?

What did Simeon’s words reveal about himself? What did they reveal about Jesus’ life and ministry?
The promise Simeon held onto was that he would see the Christ before he died. If you knew death were near, what would you like to see God accomplish before you died?
What do you think Simeon meant when he told Mary that “a sword will pierce your … soul”

Describe what you think Anna’s lifestyle was like.
What about Anna’s lifestyle do you wish were true of your own? What can you do to make that happen in your life?

What do you think Anna said about Jesus? How do you think the crowd who listen responded?
If an Anna were to have spoken (prophesied) about you when you were six weeks old, what might she have said?

Day 4
Psalm 84: 1-3
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.

Anna was privileged to be in the Women’s Court instead of the Court of Gentiles, closer to the Most Holy Place…but not close enough. A single moment in her life brought her closer than the temple could have ever brought her. When Simeon presented Jesus as Lord, Anna was present. A widow and prophetess from the tribe of Asher, had just experienced the very presence of God. Her eyes set upon the promised child, whose brilliance would scatter the darkness and bring deliverance for all God’s people.

Now she, too, felt like a sparrow soaring freely in the house of God. It no longer mattered that she was forbidden entry into the innermost courts of the temple. God himself was breaking down the dividing walls between Jew and Gentile, male and female, revealing himself to all who hungered for his presence. That day a child had transformed the Women’s Court into the holiest place of all. Anna’s longing for God is obvious. She had a great spiritual appetite, abandoning her life to God. She was rewarded by meeting Jesus face to face. Who could stop her from telling all who came to seek the Lord that she had seen him face to face. What stops you from sharing your story, your face to face moments?

Dear Lord, our souls yearn and faint for your courts. We love you, we cry out to you. We ask in Jesus name that you will reveal yourself to us today, in all things we do and say, we want to honor you, so stay awhile, dwell with us, fellowship with us, as we humble ourselves today and see your glory, your beauty and your love for us. We praise you today for the knowledge we have of your son, we praise you to day that there are no courts, no walls, that keep us from coming to you. Amen.

Day 5
Luke 2:37 And as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

Reflect on Luke 2:36 - 38

Praise God that Jesus is the true Bread from heaven, who satisfies the hungry heart.
Offer thanks for men and women who hunger and thirst for God’s Kingdom.
Confess any tendency to be so locked into your own concerns that you fail to pray for others in need.

Ask God to increase your hunger for his kingdom.

Lift your heart
Anna not only longed for Jesus, she prayed and fasted daily for the coming of God’s Kingdom. Even though Christianity has spread across the globe there are still others that suffer from war and injustice. Many who have little or nothing to eat, and many more who live in a void of spiritual darkness. Please stretch yourself beyond your immediate concerns, look at an atlas or globe and choose a place to pray for. Find information on that part of the world so that you can understand what they need. Fast and pray for peace, daily bread, freedom, justice and for Christ’s light to shine upon that people. Think of someone you know and do the same. Get to understand their needs, fast and pray for them and see what God will reveal in your life and their hearts