When was the last time God worked through you in such a way that you
knew beyond a doubt that God had done it? In fact, when was the last
time you saw miracles happen on a regular basis in your life? If
you're like most believers, you wouldn't know how to ask for that
kind of experience, or even if you should.
I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always
answers. It is brief, only one sentence with four parts and tucked away
in the Bible, but it contains the key to a life of extraordinary favor
with God. It was prayed by a man named Jabez.
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called
his name Jabez, saying "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called
on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and
enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You
would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted
him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez's simple, direct request to God changed his life and left a
permanent mark on the history books of Israel. Lets take a look at
this prayer.
1. Oh, that You would bless me indeed!
To bless in the biblical sense means to ask for or to impart
supernatural favor. When we ask for God's blessing, we're not asking
for more of what we could get for ourselves. We're crying out for the
wonderful, unlimited goodness that only God has the power to know
about or give to us.
Jabez left it entirely up to God to decide what the blessings would
be and where, when, and how Jabez would receive them. When we seek
God's blessing as the ultimate value in life, we are throwing
ourselves entirely into the river of His will and power and purposes
for us. All our other needs become secondary to what we really
want, which is to become wholly immersed in what God is trying to do
in us, through us, and around us for His glory.
2. Oh, that You would enlarge my territory!
The next part of the Jabez prayer a plea for more territory is where
you ask God to enlarge your life so you can make a greater impact
for Him. There is more here than a simple desire for more real estate.
Jabez wanted more influence, more responsibility, and more opportunity
to make a mark for the God of Israel.
It's when you thrust yourself into the mainstream of God's plans for
this world which are beyond our ability to accomplish and plead with
Him, Lord, use me give me more ministry for You! that you release
miracles. At that moment, heaven sends angels, resources, strength
and the people you need. God always intervenes when you put His
agenda before your own.
3. Oh, that Your hand would be with me!
Tragic as it might sound, the hand of the Lord is so seldom
experienced by even mature Christians that they don't miss it and
don't ask for it. They hardly know it exists. They think of it as
something reserved for prophets and apostles, but not for them.
When we ask for God's mighty presence like Jabez did, we will also
see tremendous results that can be explained only as from the hand
of God. You and I are always only one plea away from inexplicable,
Spirit-enabled exploits.
4. Oh, that You would keep me from evil!
We are redeemed and commissioned for the front lines. As your life
transcends the ordinary and starts to encroach on new territory for
God, guess whose turf you're invading? That's why praying to be kept
from evil is such a vital part of the blessed life.
As we move deeper into the realm of the miraculous, the most effective
war against sin that we can wage is to pray that we will not have to
fight unnecessary temptation. And God offers us His supernatural
power to do just that. Remember, even Jesus prayed for deliverance
(Matthew 6:13).
Stepping Out
Simply put, God favors those who ask. He holds back nothing from
those who want and earnestly long for what He wants. God's "honor
roll" (Hebrews 11) contains mostly ordinary, easy-to-overlook people
who had faith in an extraordinary, miraculous God and stepped out to
act on that faith.
Will you let God work in your life regardless of what He chooses?
Will you surrender to His power and love and surpassing plan for you?
I hope you choose to do just that. For God will release His miraculous
power in your life when you do. And for all eternity, He will lavish
on you His honor and delight.
Prayer can only be answered when we personally know the One we are
praying to.
If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ to forgive your sins
and bring you to a right standing before God, here?s a perfect prayer
which will do just that.
Dear Jesus, I know I've lived a life that's gone against everything
You stand for. I am a sinner, and I am sorry. I want a fresh start.
I believe You died to pay the penalty for my sins, and that You rose
again to give me a new and eternal life. Thank You for forgiving me.
Take charge of my life today. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, your sins are forgiven and you are now a
child of God. And as God's child, you can ask Him for whatever you
like in prayer.
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would
bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be
with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause
pain!" So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:10