|
The
Prayer of Jabez
Notes from Barbara's Christian Journal
March 24, 2001.
A couple of
years ago, I heard a message on radio by pastor Bruce Wilkinson about a prayer
in the Bible that could ignite one's life. I was very impressed by this message,
and shared the cassette tape I had made of the program with several friends.
Wilkinson said that if we prayed a certain prayer for thirty days, it would
"ignite our life." Like so many other of my good intentions, I didn't do this
for long, and my life wasn't "ignited" by any stretch of the imagination. But I
think the prayer worked to a degree because, in looking back, I see how my
life was blessed beyond measure in 1999 and 2000, and how the blessings continue
today.
It is said that we need to hear a
message several times before it really gets home to us, so I think it's
interesting that I just "happened" to tape a program on Focus on the Family
a couple of weeks ago when I heard the name of Bruce Wilkinson. It was 7 o'clock. The tape
was in my bedside radio, and I later thought it was as if God had wakened
me precisely on the hour and said "press the record button." I did, then promptly fell back asleep.
Today I finally listened to the tape and suddenly realized that this
program was a birthday blessing to me from God because that program aired on my
birthday (stated on the tape so I couldn't miss it.) This second program
featured Bruce Wilkinson, who was now speaking about the incredible success of his book,
The Prayer of Jabez, which sold over a million copies in the first couple of
months of publication.
What is the "prayer of Jabez?" It's just a tiny message in the Bible that is now
impacting the lives of millions of people -- all because God empowered Bruce
Wilkinson to study this little verse and share its message with his audience:
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.
Wilkinson
told the story of a man who gets to Heaven and hears from St. Peter about a
"box of blessings" that every Saint has. The man found it overflowing with
magnificent blessings, about which St. Peter said, "These are all the blessings
God would have given you in your earthly life, if only you had asked for them."
Emphasized Wilkinson, "We're not on an automatic mailing list for
God's blessings. The truth is, we have to ask for them."
Now, today, March 24--two years after I first heard about this prayer--the
impact of this message really hit me. Hundreds of people have reported to
Wilkinson how this simple prayer has worked in their life, so I'm starting to
journal my use of the prayer and the results. Wilkinson suggested we keep a list
of special requests with the date we asked for them, and then note if/when those
requests are answered.
I decided I needed to first write out my own version of the prayer so I could
pray it every day, and then add my special requests for that particular day.
Here goes . . .
"Heavenly Father, I ask this day for your blessing, knowing that your
plans for my life are way beyond my imagination. I have already seen the
evidence of your hand in my daily life and work, so now I come boldly to the
throne to ask you to BLESS ME INDEED, and enlarge my ministry for Christ in
any way you wish. Please put your hand on me and keep me from evil that I
may not cause pain or unhappiness to others, but reflect only your love
through my words and deeds.
My first special request is that you will give me more readers on the
Internet, and through my books, all of which honor your name. And then send
these people to me through the Internet, that I may be a blessing in their
lives through personal encouragement or articles posted on my Websites."
Update, February, 2007
I did pray that prayer for thirty days, and my journal is filled with
notations indicating that most of my special requests were answered. (We must
always remember that God doesn't always give us everything we ask for; only what He knows
we need.)
The very fact that I now have a presence on this Website with
a
young man that God miraculously placed in my life at precisely the right
time for both of us, should be more than enough proof to convince the most
skeptical reader of the power of prayer. Through the years, God has literally
flooded my inbox with mail from readers who only "accidentally" turned out to be
Christians, and I have formed many wonderful friendships as a result. Now my
"special request" as this Website opens is that God will bless the
Knight for Christ Ministry and direct to it those
people who need to hear the messages Shawn and I are sharing.
Do You Pray?
Surveys have indicated that nine out of ten people pray. Clearly, almost
everyone is seeking God in his or her own way, but many people stumble through
life for years without ever developing a true relationship with God.
Although I read the Bible and went to church as a child and young adult, I
fell away from both during my late twenties. Always so self-sufficient, I
managed to operate under my own power for nearly thirty years before I finally
ran out of steam and was brought to my knees. My first ardent prayer brought an
immediate and dramatic response, and
when I finally discovered Life's Greatest Secret in late 1994, I wanted to
shout it from the rooftops!
Many people find it difficult to talk about their faith in God because
they're afraid they might offend someone. But I've never been
able to be silent on this topic because God has so graciously blessed my life and
proven to me time and time again that He hears my prayers and is constantly at
work in both my personal and home-business life.
If you feel that something is missing in your life or you'd like to know God
better—to develop a personal relationship with the Creator of the
Universe, you’ll find a wealth of articles on this Website to help you do that.
God Bless You!
Related article:
See Bea Sheftel's report on how the Prayer of Jabez helped
her.
See Also:
The Prayer of Jabez website, which includes Bruce Wilkinson's
biography and information about his other wonderful books.
 |
For a beautifully famed picture of The Prayer of Jabez in calligraphy by a Christian friend in my network, visit
Amen Christian Calligraphy. |
________
© 2007 by Barbara Brabec. Barbara is the author of several
home-business books.
Her personal domain
includes information on her books and a wide
variety of articles on business, writing, publishing,
computers, crafts, and personal interests.
|
