Prayer of Jabez - 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
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.
Jabez’ name means “pain”.
He prayed for those 4 things so that he would be free from pain.
There’s another solution to pain and that is something bigger than your pain.
If you get that singing in your heart, you will be surprised at how small the pain becomes.
Pray for Blessing.
Selah. To push you further than you could normally go. God will take you further when you can’t go any further.
Genesis 12:2 (NLT)
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.[a]
So we pray “God, give me more than I need.” Not just for my needs, but pray for more. You cannot give that which you do not have. More love, more faith, more encouragement, more materialism so I can bless people in that way.
Pray God to enlarge my influence. This is what you do with your blessing.
WE pray for influence. Let the borders of my personal life be bigger than my personal life. We are to impact the world around us.
Isaiah 54:1-3 (NIV)
“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations. Even though you don’t think you can influence people, pray to God that He will enlarge your influence so much, you will bless others, many, and nations.
Pray for presence.
I need God’s hand upon me because of the great influence He has given us. We need His hand upon us.
Acts 11:21 (NIV)
21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Pray for protection.
We will need protection from the evil one who will not want us to have all of this.
And if we have all of these things, our pain will be minimal compared to the vastness and greatness of what God has in store for us.
