Anna’s Legacy – The Secret Ingredient to Joy

In our prayer team devotion time recently, our leader read about the prophetess, Anna, whom Luke recorded as a widow who “did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day” (Luke 2:37, ESV, emphasis added). He reflected that she saw many of Jesus’ miracles performed there. She was devoted to being with God and worshiping God –day in and day out – continually seeking His presence.

As our leader admitted, I realized that I, too, had not remembered much about Anna in my reading. Although not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture, her life is a powerful testimony to her devotion to God. Her legacy is summed up in only two verses—Luke 2:36–38— yet we learn much about her life and legacy of faithfulness in these compacted passages.

She was from the tribe of Asher and the daughter of Phanuel. She was a prophetess who was a widow much longer than she was married. Up to age eighty-four, she devoted herself to worshiping God in the temple for most of her life, and don’t miss this critical part—day and night—she never left the temple. She thanked God and told others what she saw and knew about the Messiah while awaiting Jerusalem’s redemption. She was a powerful witness to Jesus’ life.

At the time of Anna, the Temple in Jerusalem was the central place of worship for the Jewish people. It was a significant religious and social hub where people gathered for sacrifices, prayers, and festivals. The Temple described in the Gospel of Luke was likely Herod’s Temple, a magnificent structure built during the first century BC.

After Jesus’ ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the temple of God is within each believer of Christ. Our body is the temple where God, the Holy Spirit, resides.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul states: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”

In connecting the dots, John 15:10-11 emphasizes the vital correlation between abiding in Christ and bearing fruit. *Abiding in God means to remain in the Temple of God.

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” In her blog, Enough About Me – Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self, Stacy Reaoch writes, “Thisverse highlights the importance of obedience to God’s Word as the foundation for a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.”

Furthermore, Jesus relates abiding in Him to experiencing complete joy. Coming full circle, as 2024 ends, you may remember that my word of focus was JOY; this seems to wrap it up nicely.

 “I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11, ESV, Emphasis added). This verse emphasizes that true joy and fulfillment come from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ, not from worldly pursuits.

In summary, here are a few core principles for abiding in God (continually worshiping day and night in the temple of God as Anna demonstrates):  

• Remembering God’s Word: Regular Bible study and meditation help us understand God’s character, His will for our lives, and His promises.
• Loving God and Others: Our love for God and others flows from our relationship with Christ and manifests in acts of service, compassion, and forgiveness.
• Obeying God: This involves actively following God’s will in all our lives.

By consistently striving to live out these principles, we can experience the fullness of life that comes from abiding in Christ and bearing fruit for His kingdom.

While the physical Temple in Jerusalem held immense significance in the Old Testament, the focus in the New Testament shifts towards the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within individual believers. This idea significantly relates to how Christ-followers understand their relationship with God and their role in the world.

By allowing Jesus in our hearts, the Holy Spirit dwells inside us as a gift from God to help us experience joy in this life – no matter what else is going on in our lives. This requires intentionally focusing on Jesus when life throws its worst at us and the enemy tries to keep us down with doubts and fears. Let’s not allow our emotions to dictate our joy.

To recap:

• True joy is an inner wellspring: It’s not dependent on external circumstances. While external factors influence our moods, true joy comes from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.
• The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Guide: As promised in John 14:26, the Holy Spirit empowers us to navigate life’s challenges. He provides us with strength, peace, and guidance, enabling us to overcome obstacles and maintain our joy even in difficult times.
• Focusing on Jesus is crucial: When faced with trials, it’s easy to get caught up in our emotions – fear, anxiety, anger. However, by intentionally focusing on Jesus, we can shift our perspective. We can remember His promises, draw strength from His love, and find solace in His presence.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1, emphasis added)

This verse reminds us that true peace and joy come from trusting in Jesus, even when life throws curveballs our way. It’s a daily practice to intentionally focus on Jesus, to seek His guidance, and to allow His love to fill our hearts. This intentional effort is essential for experiencing lasting joy, regardless of external circumstances.

My hope and goal are to become more like Jesus and be intentional about my focus on Him. Anna is a good example for us to follow as we focus our daily lives on Jesus—the Messiah—and, in gratitude, tell others about His marvelous works while we await our eternal home.

*Abide: to continue a daily personal relationship with Jesus, characterized by trust, prayer, obedience, and joy (ESV Study Bible notes). Jesus is the secret ingredient, and abiding in Him is the key to true joy. Happy New Year!