Study in Prayer - January 25 - Stay in Prayer

Scripture of the Day:   

Luke 2:37

“…and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.”

Stay in Prayer

We covered yesterday where we should pray. The answer was everywhere. Amen.

I hinted that we need to pray in the little things we face during the day. The routine, mundane tasks. Buying dinner, choosing what to wear, etc.

The scripture today refers to Anna, an 84 year old widow woman. The scripture tells us, after she was widowed, “she departed not from the Temple, but served God with fasting’s and prayers night and day.”

She wasn’t just hanging out there for a few weeks, either. She had been RESIDING there, night and day. She was in constant prayer and service. Based upon Jewish historical records, assuming she was married at about age 16, you can figure she was widowed at about age 23 or 24. So we can figure she was in constant prayer for well over 50 years…closer to sixty years or so! 

What did this do for her?

She was so sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that she KNEW something important was happening in the Temple. Nobody told her to hurry over the Temple because the Messiah was there!  She KNEW IT in her spirit!  AMEN!

Luke 2:38 says that as she was coming in, which, by the way, was immediately after Simeon had finished prayer and prophesying about Jesus being the Messiah (he was told by the Lord that he would not die until his eyes had seen the deliverer – and he explained that to Mary and Joseph), Anna came in to the room in that exact moment and started telling Mary and Joseph, scripture says, “giving thanks to the Lord and spoke to everyone about Jesus that were there and looking for redemption in Jerusalem.” PRAISE GOD!

Nobody told Simeon who Jesus was. Nobody told Anna who Jesus was. I should say, nobody BUT the Holy Spirit! Amen!

Matthew 18:19 says, “If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father in Heaven.”  Whether Simeon and Anna knew it or not, they were both praying for the same thing and they were both praying in agreement! Amen!

They were both intercessors. They were both praying people. They were both seeking the Messiah’s appearance. And they both sensed Jesus was He right at the exact same moment. PRAISE GOD!

They became so Spiritually sensitive because they STAYED IN PRAYER.  And they did this for years and years. 

Am I saying you have to live at the church night and day for 50 years. No. Of course not…

What I AM saying, is, as we have already described, you should stay in a constant state of prayer. You need to start seeking the Lord in the insignificant things and sensing His leading. “Lord, turn right or turn left?” 

As you continue to do so, you will get better and better at hearing His voice. Just like Simeon and Anna did.

Then, one day, you might just sense that someone needs you. When you go to where the Lord instructed you to go – I can guarantee you – you will arrive right on schedule and either have a Word from the Lord for someone (as Simeon did) or confirm the Word of the Lord for someone (as Anna did). Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Until next time, this is Pastor Bob Thibodeau reminding you from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 in the Living Bible to “Always Keep on Praying!”  Be blessed in all that you do!

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