...know what to prayer for...

“22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’, 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel’” Luke 2:22-32.

Never having been there, but relying on photos and study, the Temple building itself stands in a much larger open area, the size of a small town, with plenty of room for people to come and go, to walk about and meet one another. There are crowds milling about as usual, rich people strolling by with friends and hangers-on, soldiers from the occupying forces looking down from their watchtowers, sheep and birds being bought and sold in the markets by the gate. There are plenty of beggars hanging around, hoping to cash in on the pilgrims’ generosity. And there are tax collectors hanging in or around their booths, and old people, as always, sitting in the shade, under a tree here and in a doorway there.

I am sure Mary and Joseph with their infant, Jesus, slipped in unnoticed.

But an old man catches eye of them, slowly stands up and approaches them, and he reaches out to take the baby in his arms. What’s he thinking? What’s he going to say? He praises God and says: “Master, now you dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon knew what to pray for, what to gives thanks to God for!

Today, pray for the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and inspiration to know what to pray for, and how to recognize God’s moment when it comes.

Gracious Lord, give me your Spirit,

that I may seek Your will and recognize it when it comes.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me, a sinner.