FOCUS

Scripture

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[a] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. -Luke 2:36-38

As the scripture says, Anna was a prophet who worshiped in the temple day and night fasting and praying. Her story is a part of a larger story confirming baby Jesus was the redemption for Jerusalem. The Jews had been waiting and looking for a Messiah for millennia. Unfortunately, when He came very few recognized Him. Anna, however, fasted and prayed for many years for the coming Messiah, and recognized Him when God had finally sent Him. Beloved, what promise are you waiting on from God? What are you focused on while you wait?

See, from the text, Anna worshiped, fasted, and prayed night and day. The promise was her singular focus. She didn't allow the current occupation of the Roman empire and the suffering of her people to distract or discourage her from what God had promised her people. While we're waiting on our promise from the Lord, distractions will come and the enemy will magnify all the things that are seemingly counter to what God has spoken over us. Also, there may be times when something or a situation that is equally as great as the promise presents itself to us. This is  sent to distract us as well. It's good, but it's not from God. So many times, believers have fallen for the counterfeit thinking it was God because they weren't fully focused and discerning of the enemy's tactics. 

What does it mean to be focused? It means to be all in with God. It means that you are walking in faith declaring out of your mouth what He has promised you. You stand on the Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" You allow the Holy Spirit to guide, prepare, and position you for the promise. Many in Jerusalem were looking for a mighty strong man to redeem them, but what they received initially was a baby wrapped in clothing. Because they were looking for the promise to come in a certain package, they missed and rejected Him when He was among them. Beloved, if we're not careful, we run the risk of not recognizing the promise when it finally comes because it doesn't look like what we expected it to. Stay in tuned with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and you won't  miss the promise. When you're in-tune, you won't misstep, and you'll notice the smallest pieces of evidence that the promise has arrived. 

Prayer

Father, please help us focus on what you've spoken to us. Help us to recognize the distractions and counterfeits as the work the enemy. We praise you in advance for the promise! In Jesus' name. Amen.