I’ve known a number of very energetic and spritely people well over 100 years old but every one of them spent a lifetime fastidiously eating special diets. Not so, Anna, who was probably about 105 years old when we read of her. The Bible record tells us she did a lot of not eating at all.
She also did a lot of praying so that God was more real to her than food. God was more real to her than having a husband and family. God was more real to her than all the troubles of this life.
She laid aside all her selfish desires and surrendered herself to God. She knew the meaning of the words: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). All her hope was set upon God who energised her as she waited patiently for the promised Messiah.
So this woman dwelt very close to God. In fact, she didn’t depart from the temple, but stayed there fasting and praying, day and night, and, one day, all those 84 years of praying and fasting brought her to see the salvation of Israel, the baby Jesus. She knew who He was. Nobody told her. She knew because she was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and she abode under the shadow of the Almighty (Psa. 91:4) and God alone revealed this to her.
When Jesus becomes more real to you than your fears, your problems, your sickness, your family, your job, even life itself, you will have totally surrendered to Him. And it's when you have totally surrendered to Him that you will be abiding in the secret place of the Almighty.
The exciting thing is, that when you are dwelling in this secret place next to Jesus, then no sickness can dwell there. No problems. No fears. Jesus has them all. You get to hear the Saviour’s heart and know Him and you get to hear the voice of the Spirit.
I know, because Anna did.
May God raise up strong and energetic Annas who will “praise and give thanks to God, and continue to speak of Jesus to all who are looking for redemption and deliverance” (Luke 2:38 Amp modified).
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