How did a boy who began his life with no father, no inheritance, no future, brothers without honor, a dysfunctional family, a poor self-image, and a Mother who considered Him a pain, Become a man who was highly respected, an imminent teacher, who overcame rejection, had a town named after him,
What was His secret?
WHEN LIFE WAS UNFAIR, HE TURNED TO PRAYER!
Life was unfair to Jabez in many ways. To complicate things, his name means “pain.” Every time someone said his name he was reminded that he was a pain. Can you imagine growing up with a name like pain? But someone, somewhere, came into his life and taught him to pray. Jabez learned well for he is known exclusively for his prayer life. Probably because he did more of it than anyone else. Without his prayer he would be just another name in a long list of begats. With it, he captured God’s attention, and was elevated to a place of honor. He prayed a simple, yet profound prayer, small in content, but speaking volumes of wisdom: “Oh that thou woulstd bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me” 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
The value of the prayer is not in its words, but in the life of one man who prayed it. It is not a selfish prayer about things, but a personal one about receiving what God wants to give to everybody. The prayer of Jabez is a memorial to the grace and mercy of God who hears and answers prayer and has the power to change everything in the life of the disadvantaged and broken hearted. As you read the Scripture and focus on the simple prayer throughout each day, you will find that what God did for Jabez, He will also do for you. And it will be exceeding abundantly above all you can ever ask or think, according to His power at work in you. He has promised! (Eph. 3:20)
HE PRAYED FOR GOD’S PROVISION “Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed”
The word “indeed” changes the emphasis from what things Jabez might enjoy asking for, to the spiritual blessings that God had planned for him. He is praying for God’s definition of a blessing, and not his own. Jabez was wise enough to know that what he considered a blessing could easily become a burden, but the ones that God wanted to give him would turn his burdens into blessings. In praying such a prayer he developed the power for a life of greatness to emerge. Often we want the blessings that we think we should have and not the ones that God has planned for us. Ask God this week to bless you “indeed” with the blessings that He has designed just for you. Day 1 Read Psalm 20 Father, bless me in the alignment of your will for my life. Day 2 Read Ephesians 3:20 Lord, surprise me with blessings I have never even dreamed of! Day 3 Read Isaiah 41:10 Today, dear God, show me the spiritual blessings that have come from my burdens. Day 4 Read 2 Corinthians 9:8 Lord Jesus, bless me according to your definition of blessing, and not my own. Day 5 Read Nehemiah 13:2 God, I believe that you are working even now, this very day, to turn my burdens into blessings, Day 6 Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Put your spiritual blessings upon my life so that others will be pointed to you, and be blessed. Day 7 Read Proverbs 10:22 Thank you, dear Lord, that the true blessings that you give, do not bring sorrow with them,
HE PRAYED FOR A LARGER PLACE IN LIFE “And enlarge my coast”
Jabez was not content with the status quo. He wanted influence, expanded vision, an enlarged comfort zone, and, if necessary, for God to turn his world upside down to make it happen. Out of that passionate prayer for God to expand his ministry, came the desire to know the Word of God, and to teach it to others. When he came to the end of his life, he was an eminent Doctor, a teacher of the Scribes, and an entire city was named for him. He poured his life in the two things that would last forever; God’s Word and people. God will always enlarge the influence and ministry of those who will be a responsible steward of what He gives them. Day 8 Read Mark 11:20-26 Lord, stretch me today so that I might be used in remarkable ways for your glory. Day 9 Read 2 Corinthians 1:4 You have comforted me that I might comfort others. Day 10 Read Acts 20:23 Help me to make those under my influence aware and conscious of You. Day 11 Read Deuteronomy 19:8 Father, enlarge my territory so I may have all you have promised to give to me. Day 12 Read Luke 6:43 Lord, today I want to see fruit for eternity. Day 13 Read 1 Corinthians. 3:9 God, show me where you are at work today, and give me the opportunity to join you. Day 14 Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Jesus, you have given to me all of the qualifications I need for ministry; wet eyes, bent knees, and a broken heart. Send me someone to minister to today.
HE ASKED GOD’S PRESENCE TO BE WITH HIM. “And that thine hand might be with me. “
Jabez is praying “Oh God, go with me into the future, and let me have a perpetual walk with you.” He wanted a relationship with God even more than he wanted the blessings. He didn’t ask God to take away his suffering, only that God would be with him in it. He knew that the disadvantages and handicaps he had could be overcome by the hand of God’s touch upon his life. With God’s presence in our life we need not fear the future nor dwell in the failures of the past. God’s all-sufficient hand working in and through us is by far the greatest blessing we could every hope to enjoy. Day 15 Read Exodus 33: 15 Lord, I don’t want to go anyplace where your presence would not go with me. Day 16 Read Psalm 16:11 Thank you that there is overflowing joy in your presence. Day 17 Read Revelation 7:15 I praise you that your presence is a shelter in the time of storm. Day 18 Read Psalm 105:4 All day today, I will continually seek your presence in my life. Day 19 Read 1 Corinthians 2:4 Lord, let me today see the power and demonstration of your hand in my life. Day 20 Read Exodus 33:14 I praise you that I can walk in peace and rest because your own hand is guiding me. Day 21 Read Deuteronomy 33:27 Father, I will be aware today that your everlasting arms are carrying me. Day 22 Read Jude 1:24 Your presence in my life will keep me from falling or failing.
HE PRAYED FOR GOD’S PROTECTION “And that thou wouldest keep me from evil that I may not cause pain.”
Jabez is praying a preventative prayer for protection from evil people, places and things. He was aware of the pain and sorrow that comes from following evil, and didn’t want to cause grief to the heart of God and those around him. Perhaps this is the most important part of the Prayer of Jabez. Why? Because it points out to each of us that we are incapable of knowing all that is evil, but God knows and can keep us from it.
Day 23 Read 2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord, will deliver me from every evil work. Day 24 Read Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against me will prosper. Day 25 Read 2 Thessalonians 3:3 God, thank you for your promise to keep me from evil. Day 26 Read Romans 12:9 Today I will abhor evil and cling to good. Day 27 Read John 17:15 Christ has prayed that I might be kept from evil. Day 28 Read Rev. 12:11 I will overcome Satan by the blood of Christ and the word of my testimony. Day 29 Read 1 Peter 3:10 Keep my tongue from evil that I might love life and see good days.
Day 30 Read Proverbs 18:10 Father you are my high tower, and when I am confronted with evil I will run to you. The boy who began his life as a pain, ended it as a man with the blessings of God upon his life. He prayed for greater influence and God led him to help others study His Word. He walked in the light and the presence of God Himself. No evil penetrated his life, and he never, ever caused anyone pain again. And it all happened BECAUSE HE PRAYED! Copyright 2010 Marilyn A. Orton all rights reserved .