Post Thanksgiving praise

Thanksgiving break is officially over, and I am reminded that time keeps going, just like God keeps working in each of our hearts. I had a mostly relaxing time with lots of driving with my roommate, had many thanksgiving/korean dinners, spending time with other 'left-behinders' (and townies :)), with a little shopping on top. It's back to the grind, but that is no reason to complain, but to give thanks !
Anyways, I finally finished a book I had been reading this semester, called "Praying Through the Promises of God" by Bishop Duncan-Williams. There is countless key points, but one of the many that stands out was the following from Luke 2:21-40:


59 when the time came for their 60 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 61 brought Jesus 62 up to Jerusalem 63 to present him to the Lord 2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male 64 will be set apart to the Lord” 65 ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves 66 or two young pigeons. 67
The Prophecy of Simeon
2:25 Now 68 there was a man in Jerusalem 69 named Simeon who was righteous 70 and devout, looking for the restoration 71 of Israel, and the Holy Spirit 72 was upon him. 2:26 It 73 had been revealed 74 to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die 75 before 76 he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 77 2:27 So 78 Simeon, 79 directed by the Spirit, 80 came into the temple courts, 81 and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 82 2:28 Simeon 83 took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, 84
2:29 “Now, according to your word, 85 Sovereign Lord, 86 permit 87 your servant 88 to depart 89 in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 90
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 91
2:32 a light, 92
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory 93 to your people Israel.”
2:33 So 94 the child’s 95 father 96 and mother were amazed 97 at what was said about him. 2:34 Then 98 Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: 99 This child 100 is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising 101 of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 102 2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts 103 of many hearts will be revealed 104 – and a sword 105 will pierce your own soul as well!” 106
The Testimony of Anna
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 107 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. 108 She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 109 2:38 At that moment, 110 she came up to them 111 and began to give thanks to God and to speak 112 about the child 113 to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 114
2:39 So 115 when Joseph and Mary 116 had performed 117 everything according to the law of the Lord, 118 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 119 of Nazareth. 120 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, 121 filled with wisdom, 122 and the favor 123 of God 124 was upon him.

What is most revealing about this is how even Jesus needed prayer and how God used his spirit and righteous people to strengthen his son. In this passage, the man Simeon was steadfast (ie devout) in seeing God glorified and Israel restored. God would not even allow him to see death until he had seen Jesus and blessed him!
Anna also ceaselessly prayed and fasted because her love for God was so strong. Like Simeon, she waited in the Lord's house because she knew something good would come of it, even if she didn't know when. It reminds me of another passage from John 16:21:

When a women gives birth she has distress 67 because her time 68 has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being 69 has been born into the world.

Both Anna and Simeon fit with this perfectly, I would imagine they were exhausted and weary, but their faith was so strong that they remained true to their cause. We too should hold onto that same hope! We may not know when, or even in what way our prayers may manifest, but God hears every word. Keep up the good fight brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming back again, Amen!

I won't deny that this a little confusing, but I think I'm getting it...slowly.