Answered Prayer

I’ve asked the Lord for lots of things over the years. I think once I became a Dad and felt the weight of that responsibility, my prayer life improved greatly. Over the years, I’ve found myself praying intently for my children. I’ve asked the Lord for their protection. I’ve also asked the Lord for His provision for them. I believe in the power of prayer because my prayer calls upon the Lord and His resources to change my circumstances or give me the wisdom to navigate through them.

I was reading through more of the genealogies this morning and there is a stand out. I’ve heard of this guy before. I noticed a few things about him and I was once again inspired to pray boldly. Check this out…

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 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, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV)

Jabez name sounds like the Hebrew for “pain”. His Mom was obviously frustrated when she named him. (Side Note: I don’t think I’ve heard of a lot of babies born without causing the Mom pain.) The scripture points out that he was more honorable than his brothers. Jabez obviously nullified the meaning of his name by the sincerity and depth of his prayer.   He asked some really strong things of God. He asked for more territory and possibly more influence. He asked for protection against pain and suffering. I see suffering as a part of our fallen world, but I do think it’s a bold prayer to ask the Lord to help me be free of suffering.

I think the part of this two-verse mention of Jabez is the last sentence of verse 10… “And God granted his request”. I’ve seen the hand of God all over my life. The Lord has indeed enlarged my territory over the years. I really feel blessed to have been introduced to the “Prayer of Jabez” as a young boy when Palmer Young preached a sermon on this prayer. I was a young boy and the message of Jabez’ prayer stuck with me for years. I need to be reminded every now and then of the power of my prayer. I need to be reminded of the size of my prayers – often they are too small. I needed to be reminded that God can handle the cry of my heart and He is for me.

Today I’m praying the “prayer of Jabez” once again. I don’t want the Lord to make me successful at the expense of others. I do want His blessing poured out all over my family and my business. I do believe that I have a role to play in this prayer. I want to honor the Lord with my attitude and the activities of my day. I want the Lord to enlarge my influence. I want the Lord’s hand to be all over me. I’m straight up asking God to do some big things through me NOT for me to be great, but for Him to be noticed in me.

Pressing On!

Dwayne

P.S. Bruce Wilkerson wrote a great little book called “The Prayer of Jabez” and it’s like a $1.50 on Amazon.