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 2:38

The prophetess Anna, mentioned in the Christmas narrative, is the ultimate model of spiritual alertness. This elderly woman "never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying". Because of her unhurried, constant presence and devotion, she was in the exact right place at the right time to recognize the infant Christ as the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna models the spiritual alertness required to constantly recognize and participate in God's present activity.

After spending the last few days of the year reflecting on what God has done (His faithfulness in the past), this devotion shifts our focus to what God is doing right now. The greatest danger to an unhurried faith is a spiritual dullness that causes us to miss God's active, intentional hand in our immediate circumstances. We often rush past the seemingly coincidental moments, the unexpected phone calls, or the small encounters, failing to recognize them as potential moments of divine providence.

The truth is, God is not just a historical figure; He is actively at work in the here and now, controlling the flow of history and setting up the right people in the right places. The unhurried Christian life requires us to cultivate Anna's spiritual alertness—a focused, intentional watchfulness that looks for God's subtle movements. This practice transforms our view of the world from a random, chaotic place to a stage where God is continuously unfolding His perfect will. By paying attention to small, seemingly coincidental moments, we acknowledge that God's hand is actively at work, and we can participate in His present activity.

Pay attention today to small, seemingly coincidental moments; ask God to show you where His hand is actively at work in your immediate circumstances.

Questions for Reflection

1. How would your day change if you truly approached every unexpected event—positive or negative—with Anna’s spiritual alertness, asking, "What is God doing here?"

2. Think back over the last 24 hours. Was there a seemingly coincidental moment, encounter, or thought that might have been God’s hand at work?

3. How can you practically incorporate a moment of intentional watchfulness into your daily routine to better recognize and participate in God’s present activity?