What can widows and shut-ins do to serve the Lord?
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
-Luke 2:36-37 NASB
To my brothers and sisters in Christ who are not able to be among the gathering,
Let me say first, you are not forgotten. You are remembered in prayer often and especially in our congregational prayers. Suzanne and I were talking about how we might better serve the church here and she suggested that I write something to serve those who are not able to attend our regular gatherings. This is my first attempt to do just that. I welcome your input and suggestions as the weeks go by.
Anna was advanced in years. Just how advanced was she? We are told she was eighty-four years old. Sometimes, due to the advancement of years, we are limited in what we may accomplish. Other times we are limited due to the fact that we don’t know what to accomplish. Idleness often times comes because we have no goals. The days fly by and we wonder what we’ve done with the time. Being advanced in years should not be an excuse for being idle.
Anna was a widow after just seven years of marriage. She remained a widow from the time of her husband’s death until the age of eighty-four when we meet her in the gospel. Being widowed affords many with more time than they know what to do with. Too often each day is filled up just making it to the next. This may be the case for those who are shut-in as well. The temptation to just make it to tomorrow is not from God, but is from the devil who doesn’t want God’s people to be faithful to their calling. Anna was faithful in her marriage, though it was short; she was faithful in her service to God, though it was filled with many years.
What does faithful service look like for those who are widowed and advanced in years, as well as for those who are shut-in and not able to do what was once their work? Two things stand out in the life of Anna, and these two things ought to stand out in your life as well.
Never leave the Temple
The Temple is in heaven-Hebrews 9:11-12; 12:22-24
Make it your goal to live in your home as though it were in heaven. You may not be able to fight in the streets, but you are able to fight on your knees.
Serve night and day with fastings and prayers
Fastings-times where praying is more important than eating.
Prayers-Standing, Sitting, Kneeling(if you are able), lying down-these are all postures of prayer in Scripture. Embrace the weaknesses present in your mind and body and take them to the Lord. Remember the rest of us at Brailey because we are just as weak. Your work of prayer is more important than you may ever know this side of heaven. Make it your goal to be much in prayer for all of us.