Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.”1 chronicles 4: 10
I wish it was if but it is when what lies ahead might trouble you. When Jabez gazed into the future, into the new year that lies ahead of him he was frightened of what might happen. He then prayed and cried out to the Lord in a very short simple prayer that reached the Throne of God almighty in heaven and God granted what he asked for.
When what lies ahead scare you as it did Jabez, do what he did to combat that:
- He Called on the Lord for He is the true source of leadership and headship. No other can respond to your call and grant you what you need.
- He asked for God’s Blessings opposed to the world’s blessings. He knew that what he needs to encounter what lies ahead is God’s blessings not the world fake blessings no matter how huge it might be.
- He asked God to enlarge his territories. Not his material possessions and his dominion but his influence and spiritual prosperity to reclaim what was taken from him.
- He asked the Lord for His hand to be with him. WOW! I believe that is more than enough. Imagine that where ever he goes the lord’s hand is with him in every valley in every battle two big hands are going with him. He knew how important that is. Like when Moses told the Lord if you don’t walk with us we will not go up. YOU MOVE WE MOVE.
- He asked the Lord to keep him from harm so that it does not inflict pain on him. Jabez name means born with pain. He dared to challenge his birth given name and dared to challenge his imposed trait of being born with pain and asked God to change what was handed down to him.
I encourage you to pray that prayer as it is the perfect start on the new road that lies ahead of you without the need to know what lies ahead. It is a breakthrough to your blessed life.
