The Prayer of Jabez
The Pastor’s Desk
The first nine chapters in the Book of 1 Chronicles contain a list of over 1,500 names. In the midst of all these names, the author stops for two verses to tell us of a man who was found “more honorable than his brothers”. This man’s name was Jabez which means “pain” in Hebrew. Jabez is famous in the bible for only one thing – His prayer. 25 years ago, Bruce Wilkinson wrote a book, “The Prayer of Jabez”. This book became a best seller. This book analyses this prayer of only two verses from both the heart of God and the heart of the man, Jabez. Today, we will be looking at this prayer which has become a Christian model similar to the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer boldly asks for “God to bless me, indeed”. This prayer asks God to “enlarge my territory” and to “keep His hand on me”. In essence, this prayer is asking God to make Jabez a mighty man of God. As we shall see, Jabez is not asking for fame or fortune. Rather, he is asking God to increase the territory thatHe has given him. God has given each of us certain talents and territory. There is nothing wrong with asking God to increase our blessings on that which He has
already given us – Let us pray.
Pastor Wayne
