Following Jesus Through the First Christmas: 25 Days of Advent TruthsНамуна

Prayer opens our eyes to see God at work around us.

Anna prayed for years and recognized Jesus the moment she saw Him.

Luke describes her as a prophetess and a widow who had fasted and prayed night and day. She was likely over 100 years old! She had every reason to give up.

She kept seeking God anyway.

And when Anna saw Jesus, she didn’t hesitate. She gave thanks to God and shared the good news with others. Her prayer life had trained her eyes to recognize God’s work.

Anna shows us what faithful prayer produces. Prayer wasn’t her last resort; it was the steady habit that kept her alert to what God was doing all around her.

Prayer is a posture that helps us notice God’s presence. The more we pray, the more we begin to see God’s fingerprints in everyday moments.

Faithful devotion is what fuels our testimony: it shapes us to receive God’s grace and to tell others what we’ve seen.

How consistently and desperately are you seeking the Lord right now?

How often are you crying out to Him?

No one can seek the Lord for you.

You don’t need a platform, a stage, or a microphone to be part of God’s work – a hidden life of prayer can move God. What might He do if you devoted yourself to prayer?

Pray:

God, teach me to pray with devotion that opens my eyes to You. Give me a grateful heart that recognizes Your work and the courage to tell others what You’ve done. Give me eyes to see your work all around me. Amen.

Talk About It:

When has prayer helped you notice God at work in a small, unexpected way? Who could you tell this week about something God has done in your life?

Worship:

Take a few minutes today to sit with this truth in song. Listen to God I Look To You by Francessca Battistelli. Search for Following Jesus Through the First Christmas on Spotify by Biltmore Church for the full playlist.