36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna was burdened for her people - so deeply burdened she committed her life to prayer and fasting, calling out for God to send His Messiah, their Deliverer. All those years and she never gave up. Lest we think that she went around sour-faced in sackcloth and ashes every day, notice that she was worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. She was praising the Lord, obeying the commands of the Law and the Psalms to "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." She was thankful day in and day out. So when she saw the Messiah, the baby in the temple, she was really ready to give thanks and testify of Him. Thanksgiving doesn't wait for something good or great to happen. Thanksgiving happens daily, and when something big does happen, it erupts. Let's worship and thank God today, and trust Him for those big reasons in His time.
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