We know little about him other than a prayer that he prayed, but that prayer was a life-changer.
"Now Jabez called on the God of Israel,saying, 'Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!' And God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicles 4:10)
Jabez was clear and concise in his prayer, and God granted him the specifics that he sought - blessings, presence, territory, and safety. It all leads me to reconsider this prayer statement: "You do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:2) What do I not have because I simply have not sought it from my Father?
Jabez' requests were unselfish. James indicates in chapter four that God does not answer our prayers such as to indulge our selfish desires - "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3). The "border" Jabez sought to have enlarged must have had more to do with influence and service than property fences.
To seek the blessings of our Father God, and for His hand to be upon us, is a worthy prayer request. When we enjoy His special, supernatural presence and blessings, we can anticipate that He will enlarge our borders. Is that not essentially what we pray when we recite the model prayer - "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven"? We are asking that God will enlarge His kingdom borders, and work through us to do so.
What would happen through the people of God if they focused regularly on Jabez' prayer when they meet together for prayer? What might God impress upon His people as they sought this request? Perhaps a great prayer exercise, individually and collectively, would be to pray this prayer and be sensitive to that which God impresses upon His people.
May the blessings, presence, and protection of God be yours in abundance, even as He enlarges your borders.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
"Now Jabez called on the God of Israel,saying, 'Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!' And God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicles 4:10)
Jabez was clear and concise in his prayer, and God granted him the specifics that he sought - blessings, presence, territory, and safety. It all leads me to reconsider this prayer statement: "You do not have because you do not ask." (James 4:2) What do I not have because I simply have not sought it from my Father?
Jabez' requests were unselfish. James indicates in chapter four that God does not answer our prayers such as to indulge our selfish desires - "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3). The "border" Jabez sought to have enlarged must have had more to do with influence and service than property fences.
To seek the blessings of our Father God, and for His hand to be upon us, is a worthy prayer request. When we enjoy His special, supernatural presence and blessings, we can anticipate that He will enlarge our borders. Is that not essentially what we pray when we recite the model prayer - "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven"? We are asking that God will enlarge His kingdom borders, and work through us to do so.
What would happen through the people of God if they focused regularly on Jabez' prayer when they meet together for prayer? What might God impress upon His people as they sought this request? Perhaps a great prayer exercise, individually and collectively, would be to pray this prayer and be sensitive to that which God impresses upon His people.
May the blessings, presence, and protection of God be yours in abundance, even as He enlarges your borders.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:07 AM
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