10 He (Jabez) was the one who prayed to the God of
Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me
in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted
him his request. (1 Chron. 4:10, NLT)
Before you impugn this request as being too “me” centered,
consider the following. According to Scripture Jabez was a man described as
honorable. And as to motive; a deeper look will reveal a very God-centered
heart. Jabez clearly reveals that it has always been God’s desire to bless and
prosper His children. And it’s always been His Heart to Bless and Prosper You!
Let’s consider an expanded (amplified) version of his prayer.
This is a look behind the words ‘bless me’ to their shades of meaning. Jabez’
prayer actually provides a window into the true heart of God. And it reveals that
our only true route to being a blessing for God is by embracing all of His
blessings toward us. Consider this version as a revelation of some of the
multitudinous ways God desires to Bless His Children Daily!
“Lord, bless me
indeed. Do something so big in my life that it is obviously from you. Increase
my influence
and opportunity
for you, and give me a sense of your continual presence and direction.
Protect me from falling into Satan’s traps. I will always await and receive YOUR answer with great child-like
anticipation, joy and gratitude.”
Would you characterize God as one who only richly blesses and
prospers you and me at all times? If not, why? Could it be that we need an
adjustment to our view into the true character of God? The weight of God’s Word
bears this out beyond any doubt. And Jabez was the norm not the exception!
God’s thoughts, motives, actions, intentions and will are always to bless,
provide for, protect, and prosper all.
Paul expands on these truths in his letter to the Church at
Rome.
“1 So here's what I want you to do,
God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating,
going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an
offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for
him.
2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that
you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.
You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from
you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging
you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops
well-formed maturity in you.
3 I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all
that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to
you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that
you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to
God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves
is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do
for him.” (Romans 12: 1-3, Msg.)
Could I be so bold as to challenge you to pray this prayer
for a week and journal the answers or changes you experience? If for no other
reason than to become more sensitized to God’s blessings and thereby become
more grateful. I suspect you’ll be glad you did!
Living the Jabez experience! Ron Ross
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