Answered Prayer

ANSWERED PRAYER

1Chronicles 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

A few years ago there was a wave of interest in Jabez’s prayer. A few books were written about it, giving us advise on how to pray. There are a few principles to look at here, I think and it will help us to adhere to them.

First let’s notice in verse 9 that Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. If you want to have favor with God you must be a person of integrity, be faithful to God and honor Him by keeping His word. Scripture tells us that if we regard iniquity in our hearts He will not hear us.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Secondly, notice Jabez called on the God of Israel. He did not go seeking advise from others but went directly to the One who could deliver on his requests. Besides asking the right one he asked for the right reasons .

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Thirdly, Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his coasts and God’s hand be with him. He was asking for his boundaries to be enlarged. Most likely this was in reference to property or possessions. But remember he was an honorable man so his request was not with an evil motive. Have you ever asked God to increase your boundaries in your Christian witness? I wish God would increase everyone’s reach (coast) for the cause of Christ.

Fourthly, Jabez asked for God’s hand to be with him. Friend if we will seek His will and wait on God, He will be with us.

Finally, Jabez asked for God to keep him from evil that it wouldn’t grieve him. Evil will bring sorrow to the one in evil doings and to family and friends of the one in the grips of evil. Good advise again given in scripture:

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

God granted what Jabez had asked for. That’s God, if we ask in the right way and believe He will deliver.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

In conclusion, be right, ask the right one, the right way, for the right reasons and believe you will receive.

Have a great day!