Starting this week and over the next few weeks, we will look at “The Prayer of Jabez”.
1 Chron 4:10 - Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Jabez means “pains” (4:9). Jabez was conceived in pains and that was how his mother named him. In Jabez, we find a man with whom many of us can identify with. He is a man with a pitiful past and no hope for a future. He is a man who struggles to find meaning and purpose in life. He is a man who is desperate to be accepted by his fellow man.
But most of all, he is a man who craves a relationship with God. He cried out to God.
In the end, Jabez turned out to be more than an obscure man in a forgotten time. Instead, he is found to be a man whose prayer had a significant impact on the history of Israel. We simply are amazed at his brief but powerful prayer, and most of all God granted his request. With the Jabez’ prayer, God told us we can be as confident when we pray.
Rev. Bruce Wilkinson of the Walk Thru Bible Ministries had prayed the Prayer of Jabez over half of his life and had found amazing results. The Holy Spirit has led us to this prayer and I believe He wants us to find amazing results in our lives as well.
Will you join me by beginning to pray this prayer today?