today we read the prayer of Jabez. there was a very popular book about 15 years ago called The Prayer of Jabez. it was read by many and despised by some. but it was actually a pretty good book.
it took apart this prayer that we read in 1 Chronicles, which the Bible says that God answered. Jabez sounds like the Hebrew word for "pain", and his mom named him that because of the pain she had bearing him. but he was a little worried that his life would be filled with pain, with a name like that. so he prayed, basically, that God would lift him out of the circumstances of his birth, and "enlarge his territory, bless him, be with him, and keep him from pain." pretty simple, but pretty profound.
we all find ourselves born into circumstances outside of our control. some of us are born into abusive families. some are molested as children. some are born into strange religions. none of us are born perfect. we all need to be lifted out of our circumstances and rise above where we find ourselves.
this is a good prayer for all of us. God, please be with me first and foremost. please bless me and increase my territory (give me more responsibility as i grow in my abilities). and please save me from unnecessary pain.
God, Jabez's prayer is my prayer today.
1 comment:
Amen, and ditto
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