Praying Big Prayers

Have you prayed big prayers lately? God is honored by big prayers. Prayers to be more and to do more for him.

Have you ever heard of a man named Jabez? His name actually means pain. How would you like to grow up with the name pain? I can hear the kids on the playground, “Hi Pain! Having a rotten day pain? You are a loser pain!”

It must have been rough for Jabez. However, his future was anything but ordinary. So, who is this guy Jabez? Well, he is only mentioned once in the Bible. In fact, it is only two verses. But significant verses they are!!

Tucked in the recesses of the book of 1 Chronicles we find Jabez. 1 Chronicles is not the most exciting book in the Bible. This is the family tree book. “So and so is the son of so and so and he is the son of so and so, etc, etc, etc.”

Then, the writer stops, and writes about Jabez.

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’ 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.” 1Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV

Then, the writer returns to “So and so is the father of so and so who begot so and so….”

What a prayer Jabez prayed!! One that honors God. We put God in a box sometimes and define who He is in very limited ways. Let God out of the box and see what He wants to do for you.

For more information, I encourage you to read two wonderful books by Bruce Wilkinson. They are “The Prayer of Jabez” and “Beyond Jabez.”

Also, be inspired by my book “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” Get your ebook copy from Amazon at
http://amzn.to/TPpuOw

God bless you,

Mark

JEREMIAH 29:11