An absolutely astonishing woman

Earlier in the series we saw the power that results when fasting is combined with prayer, the scriptures and seeking justice.

Today Anna’s story shows how worship also multiplies the power and effectiveness of fasting.

Anna never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.

The more you study the details of Anna’s life the more astonishing her story.

It was both tragic and completely astonishing.

Tragic because she was widowed so early in her life. (We understand that in the culture of the time, women usually married soon after puberty. This would mean that Anna was a widow for over sixty years.)

Anna suffered the horror and grief of being widowed at such a young age. But the Lord redeemed her suffering. He led her into a life lived in his presence night and day.

Anna’s life was truly astonishing because through her worship, fasting, dedication and intercession she laid the foundation for the kingdom ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. We can see this because Luke follows a pattern of introducing each phase of ministry with a strategic time of prayer.

In Anna we encounter the first great intercessor of the New Testament. It is impossible for anybody to fast, worship and pray for sixty years without the grace of God and the empowering of the Spirit. But over the years, Anna grew in her intercession to the point where she spent every hour in the temple. She even slept there! (Even the greatest intercessors today find it difficult to pray for more than several hours, but in Anna we see a life 100% given over to the Lord.)

Anna was prophetic; she was led by the Spirit to go up to the baby Jesus when his parents brought him to be circumcised. She then spoke to people about the child.

Two points for reflection

• A friend told me that in earlier years all the leadership of the New Frontiers churches would join together in 48 hour fasts and as a result many new churches were planted.
• Surely one of the most remarkable fasts of modern times is described in Brother Yun’s book, ‘The Heavenly Man’. The Lord led him to fast for 74 days. It is one of the most extraordinary stories I have ever read.

Helpful practice when fasting

• It helps to be clear about why you have chosen to fast; so write down simply and clearly the purpose of the fast.
• Be clear about when you are starting and when you will be finishing.
• Begin with a time of confessing your sin and a prayer in which you express clearly to the Father why you are fasting.