Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38 NKJV)
Old aunt Anna was a godly lady. She is a picture of a praying woman, a woman who knows God. She is elderly, has spent most of her life faithfully serving the Lord and she even stays in the church, often fasting and praying day and night. You and I will probably not find a better example of a spiritual woman of God.
However, the other side of Anna is less known. The Scripture records that she “spoke of Him to all …” She is just as adept and willing to share her faith with others. What an evangelist although we may not think of her as one.
As Anna spent time in prayer and fasting, I believe she touched the heart of God, the shepherd-heart of God. The heart of the Shepherd that leaves the fold to seek the lost sheep. Anna touched the heart of God that is broken with sadness because mankind is lost in sinfulness, in bondage to the chains of idolatry, oppression and materialism. Anna’s own heart became broken too as she cried and prayed for those around her who needed deliverance. Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision once echoed similar sentiments, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.”
I once invited a sister to participate in one of our EE trainings so that she can be trained to share her faith. However, she declined, stating that her ministry was in prayer and that she did not have the ministry of evangelism. Perhaps she and others like her need to learn about Anna and about others who ministered to the Lord.
Peter the leader of the apostles took time to share his faith with Cornelius and with the crippled man at the temple gate. Philip shared his faith with an Ethiopian eunuch and Paul shared with the Philippian jailor, King Agrippa, Lydia and many others. Even the Lord Jesus took time to share with Zacchaeus, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman and many others.
How dare we say that our ministry is only in prayer and not in evangelism? Where may I ask is your prayer leading you, if not to the heart of God. One cannot touch the heart of God if one will not allow his heart to be broken with the things that break God’s heart.
My friend, you need to do both. You need to pray and then you need to go and share. Then only will I know for sure that you, like Anna, have touched the heart of God.
