The Prayer of Jabez -- opinions wanted

[LVV]

Hello friends,

A friend of mine who has been really working and praying with me during a very difficult time, read the book "The Prayer of Jabez" over the weekend and we had a little discussion about it.

For those unfamiliar with the book or Jabez, you can read on it at www.prayerofjabez.com or in 1 Chron 4:9....the whole story of Jabez is maybe 4 sentences long.

In essence, here is this tiny prayer tucked away in the Bible, prayed by a man mentioned nowhere else in the Bible, and for whom the Lord gave great grace.

The prayer:

Oh Lord that You would bless me indeed,
Enlarge my territory,
That Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from the temptation of evil so I do not cause pain.

I see that as a very beautiful, simple prayer.

WHat has me confounded (in my recently renewed walk with Christ) is the explanation behind the prayer -- that we should ask for the whole river instead of just a cup of water to sustain for the day, that we should ask for the world instead of just what is needed, and even though we aren't asking for anything better than anyone else or above anyone else, we're **entitled** to God's riches if we do a **little** extra for him (emphasis added).

My teaching has always been to ask for what you need and don't be a pig :) Ask for God's WILL and ask that what you ask of Him be in His Will.....

Doesn't the whole philosophy behind that prayer kind of circumvent the whole concept of being in His Light as in having our needs met, our souls saved, our prayers of right motive heard, and our sins forgiven.

I feel GUILTY asking for it ALL instead of what I need.....(as has been the earth shattering awakening I've had over the last few days....exhilarating!)

This book and it's principles seem to be riding high in all walks of the Christian faiths.

Maybe I'm just not learned enough to see the whole picture, but I don't get it. I can pray that prayer, but I can't pray the prayer with those principles.....is that what God meant in that passage? That we should ask for the stars and moon and sun and everything in between because we're entitled to it?

The only thing I'm entitled to as far as I know is humility and the ability to say Thank You for all He already does for me.....anything else is the bigger and better gift.

LVV

[grandpa]

:angel: Hi Mizz LVV: Grandpa Here. I read through your letter several times and you have raised some penetrating inquires about our faith and prayer life. In 1 Chr. 4-9 & 10 we read:

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!" And God granted what he asked."

The prayer is simple and to the point. Another great point is the great blessings due Christians today and anytime they ask. God usually answers prayers three ways. 'Yes' 'No' and 'Wait a while'. I confess that in the past, if I had received all that I prayed hard for, I would have been in as much trouble as a stray cat at a dog show. It would have been really bad if I had gotten all that I wanted. Now: Fast Forward to the Gospel of John. In Chapters 14 15 & 16 we have some statements by Jesus that most people do not know much about. In John 14-13 & 14 We read:

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." Jesus says 'Anything'. That is great. There is more. In John 15--7 We read

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." In John 16-23 & 24 We read again:

"In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you , if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

I confess again that I do not have all answers for what God wants us to have or not have. However if we will spend much time in prayer and ask for the Holy Spirit of Wisdom, Insight, and Understanding, We will understand much better. And anyway--If you want something--You need something--You like something that you do not have: Ask God and also pray for the wisdom to understand. May the Lord Bless you greatly. In Closing--Read John 14 15 & 16 several times and see what Jesus is wanting us to have. If you have a cross reference Bible, look up these as you read. The entire Bible is full of promises of what God wants us to have. Agape. Grandpa. :) :biggrin:

P.S. I perceive that you are growing in Grace. Keep going. Grandpa.

[Ann]

Hello LVV
You are asking very good questions. Many people have been blessed by the Prayer of Jabez as it has challenged them to both simplify their praying and believe for answers. Sometimes we all get into the survival mode so caught up in our problems and our needs and in what’s wrong that we need help to remember that God wants to bless us. He does not want us hanging on to life spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially or in any other way by a thin thread expecting it to break at any moment. He does not want us aching through life wondering why God does not care or what we have done that He will not respond to us. I don’t know about you but I have lived in that condition. For those who are mired in these ruts this book can be a major blessing. We know that God was not displeased with Jabez prayer because He granted what Jabez ask.

However you have touched on very important concerns. First the church and especially the church in America is becoming very materialistic. I have been at churches where a person’s walk with God was judged by the kind of car they had been blessed with not by whether they loved God or shared the good news of salvation, etc. This attitude pervades much of Christian media today as well. So does the attitude that you mentioned that we are entitled to things and ought to have them. I don’t know which specific study guide your friends are using but there is often a progression in which a passage from the Bible becomes the subject of a teaching that puts emphasis on one aspect of God’s truth. People respond to that, commentaries are written stressing the interpretation the writer finds appealing and then commentaries or study guides are written on these writings. The end result may be considerably different from the original scripture. This is one reason it is vitally important to know what the Bible really says and not just what someone says it says.

There is another prayer which works well as a model. It is found in Matthew 6:9 and Luke 11:2. Here is the way it reads in Matthew
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The emphasis here is more in line with what you find comfortable and the emphasis is not only on the supply of our material needs but o our relationship with God and with our fellow humans. There are many good books on this prayer too but you can also read it, become familiar with each part and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. If you can find any books on prayer by Charles L. Allen I believe you will find them very helpful. Some are out of print but available in many libraries and on line if not in a local book store.

Your question also brings up another important issue about prayer and our relationship with God. Is it mainly about what we want from Him or about being in relationship with Him through Jesus? If He is truly our Father should we not be spending time with Him, sharing our heart and listening as He shares His heart not just grabbing cookies from His hand and running of with them?

I am sorry it has taken me so long to answer. Please forgive me.