25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

    according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

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

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

    and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

• Pray for guidance and the wisdom to face the everyday challenges of life. Thank the Lord that He is your hope and strength in times of trouble. He is your ever-present help in this difficult world, and we know that He holds the future in the palm of His hands. Thank Him that you can fully trust Him with your future.

• Offer praise to God, knowing that He is always there to provide for your needs and to protect you from the storms of life. Pray that no matter what the future holds, you will constantly feel His presence and the peace that He alone can provide. We know that no matter how difficult things become in this world, He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us as we face the future.

• Pray for the next generation of young people. Ask the Lord to protect those who know Him as their Savior from being negatively influenced by the unbiblical worldview that is flooding our schools and colleges today. Pray for young people that have not yet trusted in Him as their Savior, or who have become disillusioned with their life.

• Thank Him for the gift of children. Pray with the understanding that among today’s young people, we have those who will become future leaders, teachers, and parents. This next generation will one day become influential in forging the future direction of our society and take up the responsibilities for leading families, nations, and the church into the future.

• Pray that God will lead you to walk in righteousness and truth, humility, and grace. Ask Him for wisdom to help you live in peace with all men, without compromise and without prejudice.

• Ask the Lord to help you keep the Word of God as your protective shield and be guarded against the lies and deception that are so prevalent in our world.

• Thank the Lord, that in this world of constant change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank Him, that He is with you in all the changing scenes and situations of life for your hope and your future resides in Him alone.

Career:

• Ask the Lord to direct you into the career path that He has chosen for you. Let Him know that you desire to be in the center of His will and pray that He would open the right doors through which He would have you go, and keep other opportunities firmly closed that may be outside of His will.

Spouse:

• Pray that the Lord would lead you to the spouse that is within His perfect will for your life. Pray for wisdom, guidance, and patience in seeking the person you will spend the rest of your life with. Ask the Lord to provide confirmation that the person you feel drawn to is the person that He knows is best for you.

Finances:

• Pray for wisdom and guidance in making financial decisions that will position you for success in this ever-changing world. Ask the Lord to help you prioritize spending, saving, and giving so that He can bless your efforts.