Arise to Mission Devotional

Bishop Tommy McGhee

Most of us have heard of the “Prayer of Jabez”.  This prayer is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and was popularized 24 years ago in a book authored by Bruce Wilkinson by the title “The Prayer of Jabez, Breaking through to the blessed life”.  For a few moments, I would like for us to consider the circumstances of his life, the characteristics of his prayer and the commentary of the Holy Spirit.

Reading the book of 1 Chronicles is a bit like reading a phone book.  Over and over, we read name after name until we come upon these two verses.  It’s like finding an oasis in the middle of a great desert. However boring it may be to read all these hard to pronounce names, it is a great blessing to be reminded that we have a God who likes to write names in a book.  When we were first saved by grace, our name was written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life”.  Jesus said that we should rejoice in that truth more than in the authority we have as believers.  

So, what were the circumstances out of which this prayer was prayed?  To put it quite simply, Jabez was an unwanted child, and he knew it.  The scripture quotes his mother as saying, “I bore him with sorrow”.  What a burden to bear and to overcome, but by the help of God he became a great man despite his difficult circumstances.  What are your circumstances?  What do you need to overcome?  Whatever the problem we are facing in our life, let me recommend that we do what Jabez did.  Jabez searched the Word, and he sought the Lord.

Why do we say he searched the Word of God?  He must have searched the oral or written Word until he found himself in scripture.  It was in Genesis that he learned about a man named Jacob who when his last son was being born and his beloved wife Rachel was dying.  In her dying moments, she called his name Ben-Oni which means “son of my sorrow”.  Jacob overruled her by calling his name, Benjamin which means, “son of my right hand”.  How wonderful it is that our God is in the overruling business.  Aren’t you glad He has overruled you during your life by giving you what you needed instead of what you wanted.  Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, no doubt he laid hold of faith and called on the God of Jacob and asked to be blessed indeed!  

 My dear friend, whatever the circumstances you may be facing, let me urge you to search your Bible and allow it to speak to you before you speak to God.  Take the Word of God and call upon the God of the Word.  The Word of God will help you to know how to pray the scriptures.

Listen as he prays and learn the characteristics of this prayer.  He basically prayed as we should pray.  Oh God help me by making me to be:

A Blessed Man.  “Oh, that you would bless me indeed”. We should all desire to be blessed and to        be a blessing!

A Bigger Man.  “Enlarge my territory”. We must overcome the evil one and take back the things he has taken.  May God help each of us be strong in the power of His might!

A Bolder Man.  “That your hand would be with me”.  When His hand is with us, we can do all things through him who strengthens us!

A Better Man. “That you would keep me from evil”.  Jesus taught us to pray, “deliver us from evil”. 

Every Christ follower should desire to “depart from evil and do good”.  This is the cry for holiness.  It is the heart’s desire to be more like Him and less like ourselves.

What a prayer!  Let’s make Jabez’s prayer our prayer!

 Listen to the simple commentary by the Holy Spirit, “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers” and “So God granted him what he requested”!  He was so honorable and blessed that they named a city after him.  We read in chapter 2 verse 55 of this same book, “the families of the scribes, dwelt at Jabez”.  May the Holy Spirit be able to write an inspiring commentary about your life! 

Be blessed today my friend!