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 Chron. 4:10
The prayer of Jabez has made its rounds in books, talks, etc. People are always looking for recipes for success and since Jabez got God’s attention and his prayer was answered, we all want to replicate his principles with the hope that we will get the same result. It is not difficult to see why his prayer is incredibly attractive – he asked for Prosperity, Protection and Painlessness.
We all crave that as well. Majority of people who have prayed the Jabez prayer are yet to receive answers as he did. Why? They missed the preamble in verse 9 which states that Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. How? Read 1 Chronicles 1-9. It is basically a genealogical record. When it got to Jabez’s turn in chapter 4, God was compelled to add a special remark about him. Jabez did not seem to be a clan head or had anything that made him stand out. He was a simple humble, righteous, and God-fearing man above all others.
God takes delight in people like that and grants them the desires of their hearts.
If God called for the listing of people in your clan, neighborhood or even your church, will God be compelled to add a remark about you? What will it take for that to happen? Can you start living that way from today?
Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is EMS/SIM Missionary. He serves as Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions; Pastors of ECWA Chicago and ECWA USA DCC Chairman.
