Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 21, 2015
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38
I have been blessed to be the recipient of prayers from devoted women. My grandmother regularly asked the Lord to give me a heart of love. She was relentless in her pursuit of her heavenly Father on my behalf. I was with her when we discovered my grandfather’s cold, dead body. Her comfort and prayers for me in the middle of her own great loss marked me to become a person of prayer. Yes, my grandmother’s prayers expressed themselves in love and generosity. Her rental property was the modest home in which my single mom raised our family. Prayer grows a giving heart.
Anna was a remarkable woman of prayer. Her name, which means “grace”, defined her well. She was a precious gift from God. After the death of her husband, she chose not to remarry, instead engaging in a 100% focus on eternal matters. Prayer, fasting and gratitude to God was the outflow of her devotion. However, her worship through the night and day demonstrated bold love by pointing people to Jesus. She anticipated the coming of Christ, by speaking of Christ! A praying woman has the credibility and caring spirit to speak of Jesus. People listen to pure love.
“The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help” (1 Timothy 5:5).
Who do you respect as a woman of prayer? Look to them for inspiration not intimidation. Women of prayer find strength in praying together. They cry out for each other on behalf of those who need to know the Lord. They petition their heavenly Father to give their husbands: a heart for God, sensitivity in their marriage, patience with their children and wisdom at work. The devil flees in the face of women of faith. Prayer gives confidence that Christ is at work around you.
Most of all, grow in intimacy with God. Be still and listen to His gentle, kind and corrective voice. A life lived in a hurry will rush right past relational engagement. Listening prayer with Jesus allows you to hear wise, reassuring and instructive words. Begin with a free resource like How to Have a Quiet Time or the very helpful book: Seven Sacred Pauses. Women who desire to hear from God enjoy inner satisfaction. The Lord’s speech soothes your soul and softens your speech. Prayer grows you into an attractive, interesting woman others want to know.
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers” (Acts 1:14).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, slow me down to see Your face and listen to Your heart.
Related Readings: Genesis 3:8; Isaiah 30:21; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Acts 4:24; Revelation 3:22
Post/Tweet this today: A prayerful person has the credibility and caring spirit to speak of Jesus. #prayingwoman #wisdomhunters
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© 2015 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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your piece on having a quiet time is good and solid but experiencing the steps of a quiet time while learning to fully engage takes practice. Catherine Martin of Quiet Time Ministries has an exceptional book on “How to Have a Successful Quiet Time” . It is a 30 day study that daily takes you through the steps and engages you in an intimate relationship with the Lord. I highly recommend it to old and new Christians alike who are seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord. The study, and practice have made me a committed Quiet Time person. Thank you Catherine for laying out an exceptional process and to Boyd for bringing it to attention in public media.
Dear Debi~ Thank you so much for letting us know about Catherine Martin’s book. I am not familiar with it but will check it out. Thank you for the recommendation. I agree with you, being fully engaged does take practice (and then, even, more practice!)
Did you enjoy the Wisdom Hunter’s devotional, “A Praying Woman”? I hope you were blessed by it. It was so interesting to me to learn about the prophet, Anna, from the tribe of Asher. What a faithful woman and a great example of a praying woman!
We are thankful for you, Debi, and look forward to hearing from you again. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
“Be joyful always; pray continually; giving thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18