The prayer of Jabez – A call to bold prayers
Day 1 – Jabez’s attitude and disposition
1 Chronicles 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, keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain,” And God granted his request.
What made Jabez different from you and me?
Jabez was a man with like passions and faced situations like any human would. As we consider who Jabez is, there is no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures. However; as 1Chronicles 4 records the genealogy of Judah, the chapter was interrupted to mention some minute details about Jabez and his prayer. His mother named him Jabez meaning “sorrowful” because she bore him in pain. Although he was considered more honorable than his brothers, his name meant pain. His name was a constant reminder of sorrow and perhaps a reality of what was going on in his life. As we take a closer look at Jabez, we notice he would not allow his human limitations to control him and become his lot in life. If everything was working perfectly for Jabez, we would not have his prayer. Jabez’s prayer was a short, but powerful prayer, filled with absolute confidence in God. Jabez knew that only God could change the meaning and course of his life forever.
Jabez displayed attitudes of boldness and resilience
His earnest prayer not only captured the heart of God, but continues to capture and intrigue millions of people around the world, for many generations. Jabez knew who to direct his prayer to, so he petitioned God, to bless him, enlarge his borders, keep his hand of protection, guidance, preservation, and deliverance on him and keep him from evil so I would not experience the pain. Jabez, the man of sorrow and pain cried out to God to keep him from that sorrow. His prayer was not answered because he was more honorable than his brothers, it was answered because, he recognized where his help comes from and his boldness to request that help.
Would you dare to pray bold prayers like Jabez?
I believe that God wants us to take the limits off Him and pray bold prayers. Pray with God-confidence and pray knowing that God is faithful to honor his word. “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not (Jere. 33:3).” God has given us the release to call upon him and to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Adopt the attitude like Jabez, pray bold prayers and wholeheartedly trust God, who is well able to undertake anything you throw at him.
Follow along as we continue to explore the prayer of Jabez and what it means to us.
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
These are valuable materials that will inspire and empower your life to pray bold prayers.