Prayer and Patience Rewarded

 Luke 2: 36-40

Anna's Life of Prayer

³⁶ 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, ³⁷ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

³⁹ And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

We sometimes grow impatient when our prayers are not answered.  A look at Anna's life is cause and motivation to  keep on praying  with patience and trust.  God is not deaf, God is not mean. He knows best how and when to answer our prayers.  With most of her life behind her, she kept to her regimen of prayer and fasting, and then, at the "eleventh hour", if you will, she had the answer to her prayers in her arms.  How good is the Good God!  May she continue her prayers for us who pray with so little faith, patience and trust!

Bro Rene