by Kaye Johns

Jabez and his prayer are mentioned only briefly in Scripture, in the midst of chapters containing only genealogy. All we know about Jabez is that his mother bore him "with sorrow," and that he was "more honorable than his brothers." Yet his prayer and God’s answer are recorded as an encouragement and example for us:

"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.  1 Chronicles 4:10

Today, none of us would likely consider ourselves more honorable than others, yet when we present ourselves to our heavenly Father, we come not in our own merit or righteousness, but in Christ Jesus. He is our righteousness, and it is in Him that we are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace [Hebrews 4:16].

Our challenge to our readers, and to ourselves, is that we offer this prayer daily, praying boldly as Jabez prayed, that the Lord will bless us indeed in our prayer lives. We offer a sample prayer on the next page, and our prayer is that each one of us will pray it daily for ourselves and for those ministries to which God has led us. We know the Lord will hear and answer.

Jabez’s Prayer for Our Prayer Lives

To pray daily, for at least four weeks!

Father, because the desire of our hearts is to become all that You want us to be as people of prayer, I offer Jabez’s prayer for my own prayer life and for those You have placed on my heart as an intercessor, believing it will be in Your will to hear and answer such a prayer.

exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we can ask or imagine, that our lives and our prayers will be blessed to be a blessing in the lives of those we love and pray for.

increase the boundaries and extend the margins of our knowledge of prayer, our desire to pray, the time we spend in prayer, the number of people we pray for, our undertaking of what to ask, and the effectiveness of our prayers.

that every prayer will be inspired by Your Spirit, that we will be enabled to live the life that keeps us sensitive to His leading and allows You to hear and answer every request He leads us to make.

protect us from Satan and every evil spirit under his command in the name of Jesus and with the blood of the cross, demolishing every stronghold attempting to influence our heart, mind, emotions, or will against the knowledge of God.

Now, Father, I ask you to help us to be those who love You with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Help us to live so that our hearts do not condemn us, lives that are obedient and pleasing to You--for I ask it in Jesus’ name.

Amen.