1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (KJV)
And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
The prayer which Jabez prays can be broken into four parts. Over the next four posts, I will be talking about each one. For such a very short prayer, the words this man expresses are so universal that we today can, and should, just as easilly express them to the Lord. I hope you take the time to come and read the entire collection, absorbing each for its own unique quality, and finally, after day four, adopt this prayer into your daily devotion.
In his first segment, Jabez asks that the Lord would "bless him indeed". The Lord wants to bless us. He blesses us even when we do not ask. We are told; however, that He will bless us even more if we ask as here in Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
So why not ask to be blessed? Jabez did and so should we.
I am quite certain that once you begin praying this petition, your life will begin to be filled with blessings. What I want to be sure of at this point; however, is that you are able to fully recognize a blessing when it shows up in your life...
Here is a little listing of ones that we learn about in the Bible. So, if the Lord blessed this way two thousand years ago, we can expect to see similar blessings in our lives today. (because He never changes...)
Over the nations:
Isaiah 61:9 (NIV) "Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed."
Over families and life:
Psalms 128:5-6 (NIV) "and may you live to see your children's children."
Over our work and provision of food:
Deuteronomy 12:7 (NIV) "There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you."
With protection:
Deuteronomy 33:29 (NIV) "Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places."
With abundance:
Job 42:12 (NIV) "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys."
More provision and abundance:
Leviticus 25:21 (NIV) "I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years."
Add to this the blessings of a relationship with the God of the universe; the salvation through His son, Jesus Christ; the indwelling of His Holy Spirit; the forgiveness of sins; the promise of an endless existence in Heaven. I could go on and on and on.
Instead, I ask you to please recognize the blessings of children, grandchildren, family, friends, relationships, health, ability to serve, sunrises, sunsets, laughter, joy... What I'm saying is, acknowledge what a blessing is so that when God sends them, you accept and appreciate them in praise and thanks.
Tomorrow we join Jabez in a petition that the Lord "enlarge our coasts".
