1 Chronicles 4:8-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
I've heard about the prayer of Jabez, but when it was shared to us at the leaders conference, some part of the prayer resounded loud and clear as if it was the first time I heard it true and loud.
What a terrible thing it is to be given the name "pain" and to live life with such a name. I have an ex-colleague who wanted to name her soon-to-be-born son "anakin" and I gagged at the suggestion because how many parents will some day make fun of her darth vader inspired named son.
The cry of Jabez to God cannot be more honest and heart-felt to me, and many of us included. We all want to be blessed! But this succinct prayer covers all that we will need for our life. For the almighty God to bless us and be with us! Afterall, with God for us, who and what can come against us?
As the cry of Jabez was read out and exhorted, I couldn't help but to cry out in my heart. God bless me and be with me throughout the entire of next year and my life forever. I cannot and don't want to live/trudge through life by my own strength.
M.
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns." (Revelations 19:6)
