-May 24, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Friday,
“…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, and that I may not cause pain.”
(1 Chronicles 4:10).
Jabez made a very heart felt, earnest prayer to the Lord for the Lord’s blessing and help; so that he would be a blessing and help to others. In 1 Chronicles 4:9 we read of his character in relationship to his family, “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” We are not told how many brothers he had or what exactly he did.
There are five requests Jabez makes to the Lord: that the Lord would bless him indeed, enlarge his territory, that His hand would be with him, and keep him from evil, and that he would not cause pain.
1. Bless me indeed – Jabez not only asked for God’s blessing, but His blessing indeed. This first request is of a spiritual nature. His priority was good. He wanted to do good in God’s sight. He wanted God’s best for his life.
2. Enlarge my territory – This is request for God’s favor on all that he was doing and would do. God gives each one of us a lot in life; what we do with that lot is what counts. We want to use all the talents, gifts, abilities, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom that God has given to us to the max. We want to grow in Christ and flourish in every way.
3. That Your hand would be with me – This means that God would be with him each day in every way. We can’t do anything without the Lord. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
4. Keep me from evil – This shows his desire to please God and do what is right in His sight. He didn’t want to sin. When Jesus spoke the Lord’s Prayer, one of the requests he told them to pray was: “And lead us not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).
5. That I may not cause pain – Though his name means, “He will cause pain,” he didn’t want to live down to his name. He didn’t want to cause pain to the Lord or anyone else. The old nature causes God pain, others pain, and ourselves pain. Now that we have Christ and the new nature, we bring forth love, mercy, compassion, and kindness instead of pain.
The Prayer of Jabez is so beautiful and teaches us what we should pray for ourselves in order to impact others. With all God blessings, let us be a blessing. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.
Many prayers for others, a few for ourselves; but God hears and answers them all.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 