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A Powerful Prayer for You and Me

from Jabez's prayer

Tucked inconspicuously in the middle of the book of Chronicles in the Old Testament, there we find a short story of hope and the powerful prayer of a man named Jabez. Seemingly destined for a life of pain and struggle, as "...His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain'"(1 Chronicles 4:9 NIV). Jabez actually means sorrow or trouble according to biblestudytools.com.

But Jabez was not satisfied with this life of pain that his mother had laid out for him. So, in Jabez's faithfulness in God, "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" (1 Chronicles 4:10). Instead in the next verse, Jabez, through prayer, asked God to change his life to a destiny free of pain. This is truly an example of how God receives our prayers, how prayer can alter the course of our lives, and if it is God's will, He swiftly answers.

Although, it's a tiny prayer in length sitting among an important list of people in biblical times, it is an extremely powerful prayer.

Here are a few things Jabez's prayer lets us know about God and His omnipotent ways.

1. We don't have to settle for the mistakes of our parents or past generations. Just because Jabez's mother did not honor him with her ways, does not mean that Jabez had to stay trapped in a life of pain.

2. We can ask God, through prayer, to change our path from a life of trouble to a life of blessing.

3. We can ask God to enlarge our dominion, family and impact on others for the glory of God.

4. We can ask God to lead us with His hand all the days of our lives into our purpose and God-given destiny. Yes, we each have a purpose here on earth to fulfill for God.

5. We can ask for God to protect us from the devil and the traps of sin and death. The devil is real, and he is a liar.

6. We can be free from living a life of sorrow. This speaks volumes to me in a personal way as I have struggled with pain for much of my life. We don't have to stay trapped in the pain of regret, disappointment, depression, or sorrow when we ask for God's provision, protection and hand on our lives. We can break free from these chains through the truth of God's word and the power of prayer.

7. If your prayers are in line with God's will, He will answer. Stay faithful! He loves us; we are His beloved, and He wants to bless us. You have to believe that God is good all the time, and that He means well for you.

 

For a further study and enlightenment about Jabez, read The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson.

 

Be Blessed,

AllisonD

allisond.com