Anna, a Prophetess, and the Daughter of Phanuel

Luke 2:36-38

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Anna was a prophetess and the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser and she was a widow. She was pretty old of about eighty four years of age. After her marriage, she had lived with her husband for seven years before his death. She chose to live in the temple of the Lord and departed not from there. She served the Lord God with fastings and prayers night and day. She prayed without ceasing as it says in I Thessalonians 5:17. Also she rejoiced in hope, was patient in tribulation with continuing instant in prayer (Romans 12:12). Her hope was in the coming Savior of the World, Jesus Christ; she was patient in her suffering; continued to pray faithfully. She was a young widow and sure many temptations would have come her way if she has chosen to dwell in the world. She chose the best place to live after she became a widow. Psalm 84:10 says, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” What a woman of faith Anna was!

Isaiah 58:6 speaks of God’s chosen fast: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” Such was the fasting and prayers that Anna did. For those that looked for redemption in Israel, Anna was a woman with prophetic ability foreseeing the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Was it a gift that she had? No, it was a divine gift bestowed on her by the Lord God who knew her heart. She allowed God to search and know her heart, try and know her every thought (Psalm 139:23).

The effectiveness of a fervent prayer goes a long way in our walk with Christ. James 5 speaks on the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man. It also speaks of the power of an earnest prayer like Elijah’s. Anna chose the feet of the Lord at a very young age and stayed there until she was very old. She chose the courts of the Lord. What are you after? Do you long to be at Jesus’ feet in earnest prayer or do you loiter in the world and long for the things of the world? The feet of Jesus are the best place to be at and pour out your heart there and cry out for the souls that need to repent, for nations to turn from their wicked ways, for the cities that are given to the lust of flesh and power, for the people to be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, so precious… Anna gave thanks to the Lord and spoke about the redeemer to all those that sought the redemption through the Savior! She had a beautiful heart of praise and sacrifice. This year one of my earnest prayers to the Lord God is to help me praise Him in a way that my praises are a sweet aroma to His nostrils and a pleasant sound in His ears. I sure know He would teach me how to praise Him.

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