The 3 Wise Women of ChristmasSample

Like Anna, Trust God’s Promises

“Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying.” Luke 2:37 (GW)

Over the past couple of days, we’ve been looking at the wise women in the Christmas story. Today you’ll meet the third wise woman, Anna. When her circumstances would have made it easy to do otherwise, she chose to focus on God’s presence and to tell everyone she could about Jesus.

Luke 2 says that Anna had been a widow for 84 years. The love of her life had died when Anna was still very young. This wasn’t what she had planned for herself. Disappointment could have made her bitter. But the Bible gives us a different picture. Luke 2:37 says, “Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying” (GW).

When Anna’s husband died, she could have chosen to let her love die too. Instead, she wisely redirected her love to God. She spent her days and nights focusing on his presence instead of her disappointment.

If you haven’t yet, one day you will probably find someone you want to love is no longer there. What do you do with your love in those circumstances? If you’re wise, you’ll focus on God’s presence and redirect your love.

Anna also made a second wise decision when her husband was no longer there for her to love. After spending years in God’s presence at the temple, she finally met Jesus—and immediately began spreading the Good News about him.

When Jesus was eight days old, Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple, and Anna was there. The Bible says: “At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free” (Luke 2:38 CEV).

From the moment she met Jesus, she started telling other people about him. The Bible says, “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV). Anna was wise because she chose to tell other people about the Good News of Jesus’ arrival.

During this Christmas season, you can make that same decision. People around you likely will be more open to spiritual truth than at any other time of the year. No matter what disappointments you’ve faced this year, choose to be like Anna. Refocus your love on God and tell people about Jesus.

That’s a wise decision.

This devotional © 2024 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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