Prayer
10.JabezPrayer
IChronicles4:10"AndJabezcalledontheGodofIsrael,saying, Ohthatthouwouldestblessmeindeed,andenlargemycoast, andthatthinehandmightbewithme,andthatthouwouldest keepmefromevil,thatitmaynotgrieveme!AndGodgranted himthatwhichherequested."
Meaning:OnlytwoversesintheBibletalkofJabez.Oneversesays he"wasmorehonourablethanhisbrethren"(IChronicles4:9),and theotherverse(IChronicles4:10)tellsusofhisprayertoGod. Jabezprayedforfourthings,allofthembeingforhimself.Praying forselfisnotselfish,butnecessary.ItwasApostlePaulwhotold Timothy,"Takeheeduntothyself"(ITimothy4:16).Itisonlywhen weareclean,holy,andrightthatwecanhelpotherstobeclean,holy, andright.
Application:Jabezrequestedfourdifferentthings.First, hesaid"Blessmeindeed."ThatwouldbetoaskforGod's blessingonyourlife,bothphysicallyandspiritually.Then JabezaskedGodtoenlargehiscoast.Hereweneedtoask Godtogiveusmoreinfluenceandopportunityforservice.
Thirdly,JabezaskedthatGod'shandwouldbewithhim. ThisisprayingforGod'shandtobeonusforgood.We shouldwantHishandofprotection,correction,and direction.Lastly,JabezaskedGodtokeephimfromevil. Thoughweshouldasktobekeptfromphysicalharm,itis mostimportanttobekeptfromsinthatwillhurtus spiritually.