There was one Anna, a prophetess, of the tribe of Asher, and she, a widow of about eight four years, did not depart from the temple, serving the Lord with fastings and petitions night and day. Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2: 37 -38)

One of the great privileges in this world is to have people praying for you or to remember you in their prayers. And it's so awesome when what they have been interceding or petitioning God for you come to past and they come and share the joy with you.
Apostle Paul was of that spirit and ministry. He interceded for all believers in the various churches and places, writing to them to tell them he was praying for them. His epistles are filled with the reminders and his intercessory ministry. The Lord Jesus, even though in Heaven, is in this ministry, praying for every person His blood has redeemed, and every church of which He is the foundation and the cornerstone. Amen.
I used to wonder why God granted Simeon and Prophetess Anna this real opportunity to meet the Child Jesus, and to blessed the Lord, the Child and the parents, until I realized that God appointed these ones (and many others) to inercede for many years for the Birth of the Messiah. The clue to this is that both of them were described as "looking for the Redemption". To paraphrase, they were looking for the Redeemer, Israel's Messiah. No wonder Simeon asked the Lord to release him now to die since he has seen the Saviour. His work of intercession is done. Oh what a joy and awesome blessedness. We know the Prophetess Anna also past away not long after meeting the fruit of her intercession, the Child Jesus.
I am sorry to say that the art and ministry of intercession is dying out in the church and among Christians these days. The focus now is on miracles and our own comfort! What God can do for us individually. This is selfishness and unchristian.

As we have begun the new year, let us consider the life, the spirit and the ministry of intercession as Christians. For one thing is true and sure, God is looking for intercessors. "I sought for a man (and woman) among them (the people of God) who would build up the wall (ie, separate themselves) and stand in the gap (build the bridge) before Me on behalf of the l, that I should not destroy it, but I found no one (Ezek 22: 30)
Where are the people, who would separate and consecrate themselves, and be the bridge between God and the lost, the society, the country, the president, that God's hand would move to restore things well and change things for better. In Israel those days, God found none, in Sodom God found none, except Lot, and in our time and our days, who is God finding? And would you be counted among the people God would find and use for His glory and for your country, for the church and for the future? Please, let us stop being selfish and lazy as Christians, for destiny and eternity are at stake!
So as you go through the year and live life, become an intercessor, let God find you in the gap before Him. And may the Lord cause you to share in the joy and the blessings as He did for Simeon and Anna in Jesus name. Amen
Shalom, life and grace to you
Moving people onto God's purposes

@johnsonkoranteng @sirknight @sc-g