Minister To Him Like Anna

We are in Day 3 of our 10 Day Daniel Fast. We find in Scripture, that fasting was an expected, inseparable part of a Believer’s life. Fasting is a way of submitting and surrendering to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Fasting, it is an unfamiliar concept to many, and a seldom used means of intimacy with our Savior.   Fasting is a valid spiritual discipline and should become part of a Believer’s lifestyle, similar to prayer, Bible study, Scripture memory. Above all, fasting should be a personal expression of worship to our Lord from a heart devoted to Him and worship should be done night and day. As you worship Him and resist temptation, you place your desire for intimacy with God above physical cravings of hunger, sleep or the comfort and trappings of this world.

Prophetess Anna was that type of believer. In Luke 2:37 says, “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.”

Much is not told of Prophetess Anna in Luke other than:

• She is a woman. 
  
• She is a prophetess. 
  
• She is the daughter of Phanuel. As both Anna and her father have Biblical names, it can be deduced that she comes from a godly heritage. Anna inherits a spiritual legacy and builds upon it.
  
• She is from the lost northern tribe of Asher. 
  
• She is elderly. Anna is at least 84 which shows that one is never too old to serve or experience God in dramatic fashion. In Anna’s case, her greatest contribution comes at the end of her life.
  
• She is a widow. Tragically, Anna’s husband died just seven years into their marriage (Luke 2:37). She presumably had no children and chose not to remarry. Instead, she devoted herself to God. She shows that when faced with tragedy, one has the choice to move closer or farther away from God. Instead of getting bitter, Anna got better.

Anna—what an interesting woman! She served the Lord (ministered to the Lord) with fasting and prayer night and day. The word ministered is often exchanged with the word serve, what an unusual idea for a woman to minister to the Lord in prayer and fasting. Luke makes it clear that Anna never leaves the temple. Perhaps her devotion and expectation is why she never leaves the temple. Whatever her reasons, she is a fixture at the temple. Depending upon one’s perspective, Anna is living a life of worship or is a religious fanatic. Either way, Anna has found her niche. Luke stresses Anna’s age and single minded devotion. Anna does not lead a very complicated life. She never goes anywhere. Her singular focus is the service and worship of God. She is part of the remnant that is still actively seeking the Messiah. Anna is a throwback to a bygone era whose unwavering faith is likely as rare as being from her long lost tribe. We have no sense that Anna is impoverished, anxious or desperate…She seems to be yearning for something that is not practical at all. And though no priest notices the baby Jesus, someone, a widow, associated with organized religion takes notice and although Anna could not go into the Holy of Holies as the priests of her times, she is fortunate to see God in person.  

Anna proved that fasting coupled with prayer is pleasing to the Lord and when you are submitted to Him in a posture of worship and love, He will surely honor your sacrifice. As we corporately fast, pray for a worshipful posture like Anna. Resist the temptation to be prideful or think more highly of yourself than you ought, but let your worship take on the form of “fasting and prayers” and open your heart so that you can minister (serve) Him like Anna!

Enter into The Sanctuary to worship and express your heart to your "One Desire".

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