How to Make the Prayer of Jabez Personal - Melanie Redd

It was one of the most amazing conferences I’ve ever been to.

Hundreds of pastors and wives gathered to attend a special weekend at Ridgecrest Retreat Center near Black Mountain, NC. Our keynote speaker was author Bruce Wilkinson.

That was the first time I heard about a little prayer tucked away in the pages of 1 Chronicles 4:10.

It’s called, “The Jabez Prayer,” and it’s a wonderful little prayer packed with power.

I’d like to invite you to read over the words and pray these words back to the Lord for your life and your future.

Honestly, I started praying these words almost every day 20 years ago, and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life since I began.

Honestly, I started praying these words almost every day 20 years ago, and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life since I began. Click To Tweet

It’s not some hocus-pocus; instead, it’s taking the words of scripture and praying them back to the Lord.

In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples:

“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

So, today, would you pray with me and believe

that God can answer your prayers?

The Prayer of Jabez:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

So God granted him what he requested.

1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV

How to Make the Prayer of Jabez Personal

And Jabez called on the God of Israel.

Jabez called out to God!

We aren’t told why he called out to God. All we know is that he was an honorable man who believed in the power of prayer.

You can call out to God as well!

Even if you’ve never prayed much before, you can begin today.

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, Father, we call upon You. You are the God of Israel and You are my God. You are the God who saves me, and I trust You. Thank You that when I call upon You, You promise to listen.

Also, You tell me You will answer me and show me marvelous things that I do not know.

Would You do that today?

Would You hear and answer me? And, would You show me great and mighty things that I need to know?”

Oh, that You would bless me indeed.

Jabez begins his prayer by asking the Lord to bless him.

He doesn’t just ask for blessings, he invites God to bless him indeed – to overflowing.

You can pray this way as well.

Ask God to bless you to overflowing!

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Lord, would You bless me indeed. Would You open up the heavens and pour out rich blessings upon my life? As I bring my tithes and gifts to You, would You open the windows of heaven for me? Will You pour out a blessing so great that I won’t have enough room to take it in?

Father, I ask You to bless me spiritually. I praise You, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the way You have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I ask that You bless me with the peace that passes understanding, with joy overflowing, with wisdom to see and understand Your ways, with Your love for those around me, with discernment as I make decisions, and with grace for unexpected turns up ahead.  

Also, I ask You to bless me financially. As I work, budget, save, tithe, and live; would You make me wise with my finances? You promise to provide all that we need for life and godliness. Would You graciously provide for every true need of our lives?

And, would You bless me with power and strength today? I need You! Without You, I’m a mess. But, with You, I can do all things. I ask that You anoint me, endorse me, empower me, encourage me, and establish me. Additionally, would You bless the work of my hands today?”

You can pray this way as well. Ask God to bless you to overflowing! Click To Tweet

And enlarge my territory.

Next, Jabez asked God to give him more territory, more influence, and larger borders.

He asked God to expand his world – financially, relationally, spiritually, emotionally, and in all of life.

You can pray and invite God to expand your world and enlarge your territory as well.

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, God, would You enlarge my territory? Would You expand my horizons and my borders? Would You take my life and use me like You never have before?

I will enlarge the place of my tent; stretch out the curtains of my dwellings, spare not; lengthen my cords, and strengthen my pegs. As I do this and make more room, I ask You to abundantly work in and through my life.  

Would You enlarge my influence, enlarge my ministry, enlarge my work and business, enlarge my heart for You? Lord, Would You give me a love for You greater than I’ve ever had? Would You give me a love for the Bible and for prayer like I’ve never had in the past?

And, would You give me more love for the lost and those in need as I’ve never had before? Would You give me a desire to know You above all else? Deep within my heart, light a fire for You that will passionately burn and grow. I want to know You.”

You can pray and invite God to expand your world and enlarge your territory as well. Click To Tweet

That Your hand would be with me.

Also, Jabez asks for God to be with him, show him favor, and give him grace. Jabez didn’t want to walk through life without God’s presence or His favor.

We also can ask God to keep His hand of favor and blessing on our lives. As we pray, we can invite Him to bestow His great grace in our lives.

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Lord, let Your hand be with me; I’ve chosen to walk with You. I’ve chosen Your Word and Your way. Thank You that I don’t have to fear because You are with me.

You strengthen me, help me, and uphold me with Your righteous right hand. I ask that Your hand would lead me, protect me, strengthen me, and be an all-sufficient hand for my life. I’m so thankful that You are with me.

By Your great hand, would You guide me and lead me. Counsel me with Your eye on me. Allow me to hear Your voice behind me saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’  

By Your hand, would You also protect me? Keep me from places I don’t need to go to. Keep me from people I don’t need to see or deal with today. Surround me with Your protection. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; and, You surround me with songs of deliverance. Thank You for being with me.”

We also can ask God to keep His hand of favor and blessing on our lives. As we pray, we can invite Him to bestow His great grace on our lives. Click To Tweet

And that You would keep me from evil.

From the time we were young, most of us have prayed “The Lord’s Prayer.”

In this prayer, we repeat the words, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.”

That’s the idea of this next part of Jabez’s prayer. He’s asking God to keep him from evil and to keep evil from him.

Indeed, we can pray this way as well. We would be wise to ask God to keep us from evil and to keep evil away from us.

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, Father, deliver me from evil. Keep me from the evil of affliction, and especially from the evil of sin. Keep me also from the evil one, Satan, and all evil men and evil company.

Additionally, would You keep me from the evil of trouble and all the evil designs of my enemies, that they might not hurt my life or my family? I ask that You protect me from evil as I press in close to You.

Also, I ask that You give me victory over evil as I put on Your armor. I am strong in You and Your mighty power. I will stand with the belt of truth buckled around my waist.

I’ll put on the breastplate of righteousness and have my feet ready to share the gospel of peace. I’ll take up the shield of faith, which will enable me to extinguish all of the flaming arrows of the evil one. And, I’ll put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit – Your Word.

Thank You that as I suit up, You will give me victory over evil today.” 

Indeed, we can pray this way as well. We would be wise to ask God to keep us from evil and to keep evil away from us. Click To Tweet

That I may not cause pain.

This last part of the prayer is a little strange.

Most scholars seem to agree that he was referring to the meaning of his name. Jabez means, “born in pain or sorrow.”

Possibly his mother had a difficult delivery? We aren’t sure. But, we do know she named him, “pain.”

That’s what makes this part of prayer so interesting!

His prayer is that God would transform his life, bless him, and allow him to not be a person of grief or a person who caused grief.

In other words, Jabez asked God to miraculously transform his pain and his name into something beautiful. God can do that!

He can take our pasts, our mistakes, our deepest sorrows, and use them in amazing ways–if we will just surrender them to Him.

What do you need God to transform in your life today?

Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory?

Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace?

Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory? Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace? Click To Tweet

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

‘Father, would you take all of these painful things that have happened in my life and recreate them into something beautiful?

Would  you take ________, and _________, and _________, and use these hurtful things for my good and for Your glory?

I surrender all of this hurt that has weighed me down to You. I want to find and experience victory again. Would You help?

Thank you for the words of Isaiah 66:9, “In the same way, I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born.” In my life, would You make this true beginning today?

Where there has been pain, would you allow something new to be born?

Thank You that You can restore anything, anyone, at any time. I will trust You with my pain and my hurt.’

What do you need God to transform in your life today? Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory? Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace? Click To Tweet

So God granted him what he requested. 

This last little sentence is just added quietly and matter of fact at the end of the prayer.

God answered Jabez’s prayers.

God did it!

And, what God did for Jabez, He is also able to do for you!

Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“God, You are the granter of requests, the One who answers prayer, and the only One to whom I turn right now. I ask that, as you did with Jabez, You would grant me Your favor and answer my prayers.

You can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that I might ask or think. You are able! And, You are God.

Father, I love You because You hear my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because You bend down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Thank You for hearing my prayer today.

I do love you, Lord. 

In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God answered Jabez's prayers. God did it! And, what God did for Jabez, He is also able to do for you! Click To Tweet

Verses used today in today’s post and prayers: 1 Chronicles 4:10, Psalm 55:15; Jer. 33:3; Ephesians 1:3; Psalm 119:173; Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 6; Psalm 66; Psalm 116; Matthew 7; Ephesians 3:20.

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