And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, Luke 2:36

Anna—A Praying Heart That Trusts God

We are introduced to Anna, one of the women of faith in the Bible, in Luke 2:36-38. It is the only place where she is mentioned in Scripture. We are only given a snapshot of her life, but it is a powerful image! The Scriptures tell us Anna was a very old woman at the time of Jesus’ birth. She was widowed as a young woman, having lost her husband after seven years of marriage. After her husband’s death, she dedicated her life to the Lord. She was often at the temple to pray and worship.

Anna was a Jewish prophetess from the tribe of Asher. Moses described Asher as “happy and blessed… whose feet would be bathed in olive oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24). This was certainly true of Anna. She experienced immense joy and blessings when God’s Anointed One arrived. He was the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord.

One morning, Anna was at the temple after a night of worship, fasting, and prayer. She encountered Joseph and Mary as they entered with their newborn son. We don’t know how many times Anna had prayed for the arrival of the promised Messiah during her years of intercession. Yet, seeing the child before her filled her with excitement and gratitude. At that moment, she realized the promise of God’s Word that she had held in her heart was fulfilled. The coming Redeemer of Israel had arrived!

The life of Anna the prophetess serves as a testament to believers that God fulfills His promises. God’s love for us is greatly demonstrated by the arrival of His Son on Earth. His redemptive work on the cross also shows this love. The wealthiest individuals are those who carry the treasures of God’s promises in their hearts throughout their lives.

May the testimony of Anna in the Bible inspire us to pray during this Christmas season. The God who cares for us invites us to call upon Him. His invitation assures us that He hears and answers our prayers. What a privilege it is to pray and to focus our prayers on the promises of God! Prayer is one of the greatest gifts we can offer our loved ones. We should express gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. Many of these blessings result from the prayers of others on our behalf. This Christmas Season, may the following prayer draw you closer to God’s gift, the one who is too wonderful for words…

“All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.” -David Jeremiah