Praying Women
There was also a prophetess, Anna, . . . She was very old; . . . a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:36-37)
It might be a humbling experience for some of us men to be allowed to see just how much of lasting spiritual value is being done by the women of the churches. As in the days of His flesh, Christ still has devout women who follow Him gladly and minister unto Him. The masculine tendency to discount these ?elect ladies? does not speak too well for the male members of the spiritual community. A little humility might better become us, and a bit of plain gratitude as well.
If prayer is (as we believe it is) an integral part of the total divine scheme of things and must be done if the will of God is to be done, then the prayers of the thousands of women who meet each week in our churches is of inestimable value to the kingdom of God. More power to them, and may their number increase tenfold.
Let us beware, as men, however, that we do not fall into the weak habit of depending upon the women of the church to do our praying for us. If our work prevents us, as it normally does, from having prayer meetings during the day, let us make up for it in some way and see to it that we pray as much as we should.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for those praying women who have faithfully prayed for me over the years.
Thought
Praying Anna! Was it the praying of a godly mother that God used to impact you? Why mothers and not fathers, women and not men? Men, too, may be faithful pray-ers.
Used with Permission.