Devotions this week based on Come Home Week 5 – PURPOSE (WATCH HERE)
Luke 2:36–38 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, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. 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.
Anna’s story is easy to overlook, yet it offers a powerful vision of lifelong faithfulness. She had known joy and deep loss. Much of her life was shaped by waiting. Rather than turning inward or withdrawing, she oriented her life around worship, prayer, and hope.
When Anna encountered Jesus, her response was immediate gratitude and witness. She spoke about Him to all who were waiting for redemption. Her purpose did not depend on position, productivity, or recognition. It flowed naturally from a life centered on God’s promises.
Anna reminds us that purpose does not fade with age or circumstance. Faithfulness is not flashy. It is often quiet, steady, and unseen. Yet God delights in using such lives to point others to Christ. Anna did not need a platform. She simply spoke hope where God had placed her.
Living from the manger means allowing the hope of Christ to shape every season of life. It means trusting that God is still at work, even when life feels small or repetitive. Worship, prayer, and witness remain meaningful, no matter how ordinary they may seem.
As we enter a new year, move forward from the manger to a year and life of following and faithfulness to Christ. The same Christ who came humbly into the world continues to call and direct you to trust, to hope, and to speak of His redemption.
Your life, like Anna’s, is not defined by what you have lost or how visible your faith feels. It is defined by the God who keeps His promises.
Reflection:
How can my daily faithfulness quietly point others to Christ?
Where is God inviting me to speak hope in my current season?
Prayer:
Lord, anchor my life in hope. Teach me to worship faithfully, pray continually, and speak of Your redemption with joy. Use my life—quiet or visible—to point others to Christ, until the very end. Amen.
PS…Happy 28th Anniversary to my lovely and amazing wife, Christy!