Have you been praying for a specific outcome to a problem you are experiencing and you feel as if God is not hearing your prayer? And you question, “Has God not heard you?”
In the readings for this upcoming Sunday, James writes, “You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. 3 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda].”
Although difficult to hear, could this be the reason your prayer is going unanswered? Have you, have I, been asking with the wrong motive or intentions behind our request. Sometimes we can treat God as our genie or Santa Claus, forgetting that God sees the motives of our heart and soul.
Have you ever heard of the Prayer of Jabez?
In 1 Chronicles 4 we find the genealogy of the “other clans of Judah,” and in the middle of naming the clans, we are told about Jabez. Beginning at verse 9;
9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
The passage then goes back to giving us the rest of the clan. It just seems so odd to have this pop up in the middle of the genealogy. The writer would only do this, so as to draw our attention to something significant.
Jabez has found favor with God. Despite his name which means pain or sorrowful, he has received favor from God. However, there is nothing sorrowful about his prayer.
1. Jabez asks God to bless him.
2. He asks God to enlarge his territory.
3. For God’s hand to be upon him.
4. To keep him from evil.
5. That he may not cause harm to anyone.
How might we apply this format to our prayer life?
First we ask God to bless us. Bless our home, our husbands/wives, family, our pets, our jobs, our employers/employees, our church/pastors, our organizations/leaders. Whatever you are involved in, ask for God’s blessings to be upon it. When you are at work, do you pray over what you are producing, be it a manufacturing job, a teaching job or that of a doctor, a lawyer or a judge, an administrator? Or are you at home raising your family, preparing meals or retired? It is important to bring God into our everyday lives.
When Jabez asked for God to increase his territory, this request may seem a bit odd. Many may assume he is asking for real estate or material things. However, Jabez is asking for increase in wisdom, in influence, in good will. What is your “territory?” We too can pray for our “territory” to increase. Could your territory be a promotion, opportunities for growth and success for you and your family; taking an indepth look at your life - what's working, what's not working; building a ministry to help others.
To have the hand of God on you is indeed a wonderful thing. The hand of God provides good will, protection, grace, mercy, salvation, forgiveness of sins. From the Book of Wisdom, “for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.”
The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17.
God’s intervention keeps us away from evil and keeps us from causing harm. This is an area that no one wants to be involved in. Seeking God's divine guidance over our lives provides a path to benevolence.
The next time you pray, examine the thoughts and motives behind your prayers. Are they sincere? Are you praying in the faith that God does indeed see your dilemma? The prayer of Jabez is one of positive goodness. I encourage you to use this prayer and see what happens over a period of time. God did indeed grant Jabez what he requested.
Enjoy - O Lord hear my prayer from the Taize Community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMwAbTevunA
Stay safe! Be blessed!