Characters at the Cradle: Anna, A True Worshiper

by David Chadwick

Anna is this week's character at the cradle. Her story is found alongside Simeon's story in the temple where Mary and Joseph took Jesus to present him to the Lord at their purification ceremony.

Anna lost her husband after being married seven years and is described by Luke as a prophetess and a widow at 84 years of age. She did not depart from the temple, seeking God with all her heart.

How did she seek God? Luke made sure to outline very precisely how Anna lived a life that was fully dedicated to seeking the Lord.

First, she worshiped. Evidently she had a deep love for worshiping God and being in his presence. Worship seemed to be the foundation of everything else that Anna did to cultivate a deep walk with her Creator. I can almost picture in my imagination a faithful, older woman who loved to simply sit and praise God. Do you think she sang the psalms? Maybe meditating on the greatness of her God? Do you think she replayed the stories she had heard through generations of the Messiah who would come?

Secondly, the Bible says that Anna worshiped with fasting. When the Bible references fasting, it was typically from food. Fasting forces our bodies to be in submission to the Spirit who lives in us. Every growl of the stomach should remind us to seek God for our needs, our hopes, and our desires.

As followers of Jesus, we, too, should practice this spiritual discipline of fasting. Did you know that even in the secular world, medical professionals speak to the benefits of fasting for your physical health? But remember, as evidenced in Isaiah 58, that God cares more about our hearts than anything. Whatever we abstain from, God's desire is that we increase in holiness, purity, humility, and repentance. So, maybe it's food. Or maybe you need to take a break from social media, entertainment, shopping, or anything that could take the place of God. So that you can fully and clearly focus on him and his promises to you.

Finally, Anna worshiped with prayer. Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Anna most likely expressed her love for God, and God expressed his love for her. She did this "night and day."  Day and night, night and day, she worshiped, fasted, and prayed. Even at 84 years of age!

Anna should be an example for all of us of how to abide no matter our age. No wonder Dr. Luke wanted to include Anna in the Christmas story. What a godly woman who lived in adoration of her loving God!