“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
Back in the day, after a few months of having been living in Haiti in early 2001, a man sitting next to me on a flight from Port-au-Prince (PAP) to Florida told me about the book he was reading, “Prayer of Jabez” and at that point in my life, my prayer time really needed a shot of testosterone; I was weak and was facing a wall of big challenges. I bought the book while in Florida and it was short and I read it on the flight back to PAP. The entire prayer is in the above two verses.
I’ve read that there were ‘lots’ of people who ‘swear’ that God answered their specific prayers when they prayed this prayer. On 9/11 I shared the story of Father Mike and left you with the question, “are you in good shape with God.” How closely are you walking with Christ? Two very important questions about how God listens to your prayers and answers them.
There were a few things that I still recall from that little book. Jabez was walking very closely with God; he was very ambitious and he trusted that God would answer his prayer requests. Jabez had a strong faith. The story of Jabez pictured him as being a common man with uncommon faith. I am sure that you have known people like that along your journey; unshaken faith. Jabez prayed for God’s power, presence and protection in his life. Too often we seek stuff that we think may solve all of our glitches, mistakes and problems when all we really need is to be walking much closer with Him.
Our present time is really no different than Jabez’s time; we live in a fallen world. The older that I get, the more I realize that the closer I am with God, the bigger the target the devil places on my back. Moving to Haiti introduced me to the vodou priest and the horrible deeds from his temple. Moving to Haiti brought me much closer to God through my prayer life.
So, is there anything that you need God to accomplish in your life? Ask Him. Talk with Him. Get closer with Him. Get your requests in alignment with God. Pray the three things Jabez prayed; for God’s power, for God’s presence, and for God’s protection. And then wait and watch how God answers your prayers.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay