5 As of Anna - "Anna" means gracious

5 As of Anna - Principles from the life of Anna the intercessor

1. Anna means "gracious"
2. Anointed 
3. Amazing prophetic insight
4. Ageless
5. An overcomer

Anna - gracious

The name Anna means "favor", "grace" or "gracious".

Although our names may not be "Anna", a prayer warrior has to have "graciousness" as his/her hallmark. This is because being gracious or having graciousness is part of the character of God.

1 Peter 2:3 "For indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious".

Exodus 34:6 "And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth".

Perhaps the best illustration of the graciousness of God is when Jonah declared in Jonah 4:2 "...for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm"

Why did Jonah declare this? It was because in Jonah 3 (after Jonah's proclamation of destruction) the Ninevites immediately fasted and prayed to repent of their sins and God's plan to destroy the city did not materialize because God changed His mind. Jonah attributed this to God's graciousness.

To be gracious is to give others chance. To be gracious is to give others the benefit of the doubt especially if they are repentant. To be gracious is to keep on praying and believing the best of others in situations where they are willing to repent.

Psalm 86:5 "For You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to those who call upon You".

Psalm 86:15 "But, You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth".

Intercessors have to seek God to build in them this very essence and character of God - graciousness and mercy so that their intercession will be effective just like Anna of the Bible.

To be continued.....