I know it sounds scandalous but hear me out on this. This prayer has had its misuses and misunderstandings despite its brevity. Let us first look at the individual. Jabez did not like his name. He was named by his mother, Because I bare him with sorrow (vs 9). Indeed his name became a pain point to him as well. It filled him with shame and guilt. How can a mother do this to her own child?
Even though Jabez was more honourable than his brethren, he could not tap into the blessings. He was held back by his name. His name was due to the past circumstances or events of his life. His mother made a memorial to her pain in his name. Often our antics or activities cause our family or parents pain. Jabez had to live with it.
Sometimes we are able to break free from our past but others keep reminding us of it. Our environment keeps us in the past. He was among his brethren who prospered around him yet he could not prosper. His name kept him in the pain or the mess that was created in the past.
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. 1 Chronicles 4:10
To break from the shame we can only turn to Jesus. Jabez turned to God, that it may not grieve me!. There is fervour in the exclamation point in the prayer as well. He needed the blessing to counter the curse in his life. Sometimes it is the people who are closest to us who hold us in our past. They hold us in bondage to the past. It shows unforgiveness.
The heart or posture of the man is genuine. He was honourable and still asked God, to keep him from evil. It proved that he was not self righteous. To enlarge his coast is not about property but about reach and influence. Who would believe or listen to a drug addict or a murderer? But for God working in your life, you can reach others with your story.
Jabez had a story and by God's grace he received a manifestation of God in his life. He received a testimony. When Jabez asked to have the hand of God on his life he was committing his day and everything to God.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Genesis 12:2
Jabez understood the covenant God had with the children of Israel. He reminded God of this covenant and believed God for it. Only God can completely turn your circumstances around. If Jabez were to walk out of the alignment of God's will then he would not have had the blessings. sometimes we have to check to make sure we are in alignment. In fact prayer has to be according to the will of God.
He must have felt lost, alone, betrayed and hopeless. Hearing his name called was a daily reminder of something he caused but had no control of. So many of us are born into generational curses. We have to live with the mistakes of others. His posture was not one of offence or unforgiveness. He chose to deal with changing the situation. He was not thinking of getting back at his mother or hunting down or hurting those who reminded him of his pain.
I pray you are free from your past, your environment, guilt and shame. I pray you stay in covenant and alignment with The Holy Spirit and receive your blessings to turn around your story to a powerful testimony in Jesus name.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.
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