A Simple, Effective Prayer
The prayer of Jabez, which is recorded for us in I Chronicles 4:10 is a simple and effective prayer. It is not to be prayed word for word, as a memorized prayer. However, we can learn from it, so that we can pray in a way that God will answer our prayers like He answered Jabez. I believe that is why God gave us this prayer.
Jabez was an honorable person who prayed from a heart of faith in the Lord. We must pray in faith from a sincere heart, or we will never have our prayers answered.
He prayed for himself, but it was not a selfish prayer. He simply prayed for God to bless him according to God's will and in God's way. He does not ask God to do his will. Many of us ask God for what we want, and when He fails to answer us that way, we get mad. That is always the wrong way to pray.
Jabez prayed for growth in his life, when he prayed for enlarged territory, but he knew he could only handle more if God's hand was on him. He was asking for God's power, so He could grow and do more for the Lord.
Then, he realized the source of sorrow and pain. It is sin. Therefore, he asked God to keep him from sin or from evil. He knew that would limit the pain in his life and in the lives of those around him.
Now, can you see why God would answer his prayer? Can you see how you can pray today and know that God will answer? Let's apply these principles and see what God is pleased to do in our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Chronicles 6-8.
Jabez was an honorable person who prayed from a heart of faith in the Lord. We must pray in faith from a sincere heart, or we will never have our prayers answered.
He prayed for himself, but it was not a selfish prayer. He simply prayed for God to bless him according to God's will and in God's way. He does not ask God to do his will. Many of us ask God for what we want, and when He fails to answer us that way, we get mad. That is always the wrong way to pray.
Jabez prayed for growth in his life, when he prayed for enlarged territory, but he knew he could only handle more if God's hand was on him. He was asking for God's power, so He could grow and do more for the Lord.
Then, he realized the source of sorrow and pain. It is sin. Therefore, he asked God to keep him from sin or from evil. He knew that would limit the pain in his life and in the lives of those around him.
Now, can you see why God would answer his prayer? Can you see how you can pray today and know that God will answer? Let's apply these principles and see what God is pleased to do in our lives.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Chronicles 6-8.