The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10)
When the author
of Chronicles dutifully provides us with a list of Judah’s
descendants, he can’t help but stop himself. Right in the midst of
all these names, he comes to Jabez, a man he wants us to notice, a
man of true honor. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve caused pain or
if you’ve ever wanted to believe that God can do more than you can
ask or imagine, this prayer is for you:
“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.”
This prayer is
the true classic. Most of us have said this prayer and could likely
recite it right now. But there’s much more to this model that Jesus
gave us than rote recitation. This is a prayer with real power: God’s
kingdom coming, God’s will being done, all that we need for the
day. It’s truly power packed. So, take a closer look at what it
teaches:
“Our
Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.”
We may never be
swallowed by a great fish, but we can still experience the shame and
regret that Jonah felt after he ran from God. The prophet’s plea to
the Father provides a poignant scaffolding for our own prayers of
repentance. And remember that God heard and answered this humble,
honest prayer:
“In
my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me
into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
I said, ‘I
have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing
waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of
the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
“When
my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
“Those
who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
turn away from God’s love for them.
But
I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
This
one was a tough choice because the Psalms are stuffed full of cries
and petitions. If you ever want a primer for prayer, you can’t go
wrong with this wisdom book. But we chose Psalm
3 because
it provides a concise portrait of crying out to God in the midst of
great stress. David’s words are no less relevant to our modern
workplace and lifestyle as they were to his battles:
Lord, how many
are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
How many rise up against me!
Many are saying
of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
“God will not deliver him.”
But
you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to
the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
I lie down and
sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear
though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
assail me on every side.
Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
From
the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
May your blessing be on your people.
When Hannah
received the child she begged God for, her first instinct is to
praise the One who provided. She wants to thank Him for His greatness
and His deliverance. Too often we pray before receiving, but then
forget to pray after God answers. Let this prayer guide you in
thanks:
“My
heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
“There
is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly,
let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the feeble bind on strength.
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven,
but she who has many children is forlorn.
The Lord kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world.
“He
will guard the feet of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,
for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
The
Bible is our source of instruction for living. When you cannot find
the words to pray, turn to these Scriptures for guidance and
experience the power of God's Word.
