In Luke 2:36-40 (NIV) “There was also a prophetess,...

 Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” As I began to look at the new year I was very aware that it is Christmas time and keenly aware that we will be challenging you to fast with us Jan.1. 21 days.I felt that God wanted me to tie Christmas and fasting together.

We feel at the beginning of 2022…if we can give our first fruits to the Lord…the first of our prayer, the first of our time, the first of our passion, the first of all we are and hope to be, blessings will come! Also, I felt He spoke to me and said that our previous fasting, prayers, and persevering have accumulated before Him and He was about to reveal His great love and presence to us…Himself! 

1. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna had a dedication to God’s House...She never left the temple. 

Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Church was not optional for her because she had a passion for God’s house. With everything being shaken that can be shaken...get to God’s house...His refuge for us! What could be more important than spending time with God?

2. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna made a choice to worship God night and day. Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Just an observation: those who make the choice to worship God night and day, thru the bad and good, thru blessed times and rough times, those individuals have peace with God and experience Him more often!

3. To be ready for Jesus to come Anna fasted and prayed. Luke 2:37 (NIV) “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Your pastor and church leadership are admonishing you to join with us in fasting and praying beginning January 1. Could it be that 2022 will be your year! Our year! We are asking for 100% participation...we are asking for you to especially join with us starting Sunday January 2 for our Annual week of Prayer. We believe that as we are unified in this fasting and praying that God will reveal Jesus to us in a greater way. Isn’t that the purpose…Jesus to be revealed!