Jabez's Prayer and Ours

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, 'I gave birth to him in pain.' 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 4:9-10

Several years back, Jabez's prayer was all the rage. Many people were praying it daily hoping it would produce the same results for them that it did for Jabez. But to simply repeat someone's prayer as a kind of magical omen is not true prayer. We can learn from and be inspired by Jabez's experience but we should not attempt to duplicate it.

What we should learn is that God hears and answers the prayer of "honorable" men and women who seek him in faith. Our situation and need is probably different than Jabez's but our God is the same God who hears and answers the prayers of those who seek Him in faith. Our God is a God who delights to bless His people and enlarge their boundaries within the boundaries of His own will. I'm quite sure God has much more to give us than we have yet to receive and places to lead us that we have yet to go. Let's seek Him in faith for the fullness of His will in our lives!

Father, help me to learn to pray with faith from an honorable heart as Jabez did so that I too might experience more of Your will in my life.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark