Enlarge My Territory

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) 

We don’t know much about Jabez. His name only appears three times in the Bible. But we are told in the Word a few important things about him. First, notice that he had a rough start. Something in his mother’s life caused her to give him a name that means pain or sorrow. The Bible doesn’t tell us what her circumstances were, but they were the outstanding feature of Jabez’s entrance into the world. Second, he was honorable. He was honorable, noble – more so than his brothers. When God says you are honorable, it’s usually because you live right. As we have seen, living righteous has an impact on getting your prayers answered. Third, Jabez made his requests known to God. He had desires and he expressed them to God in prayer. This, as we have seen, is crucial to having your needs met. 

1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence which we have [a]before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him…" The prayer of Jabez contains an urgent request for four things: 1) God’s blessing. 2) An expansion of territory. 3) Jabez prays for victory and prosperity in all his endeavors and that his life would be marked by increase. 4) Protection from harm. Jabez looks to God in confidence as his defender.

Jabez’s goal in his prayer was to live free from sorrow, and the last thing we read about him is that God heard and answered his prayer. The things Jabez requested were the kinds of things God wants His children to have; true blessings from Him, greater opportunity and responsibility and deliverance from evil. These requests were according to God’s will, so God heard them and answered them.

What About You? Does your character remove the roadblocks to answered prayer?
Do you make your requests know to God? Are you asking according to the will of God?

This grace that was extended to Jabez is ours for the taking today. Our Father gives us an opportunity to finish better than we started. We’re not limited by our past and by faith, we can rise above our past and our Father can advance us beyond our borders into new territory!

Enter into Intercession

Father, I surrender myself into your hands. Let Your will be done in my life. Though you sometimes take us through the valley of the shadow of death, yet we should not fear because you have a plan to protect us for harm and to bless us, just as you blessed and extended the territory of Abraham and Jabez. In this season, let me learn from the life of Jabez. Just as you answered Jabez prayer, granted what he had asked and brought him along to the fulfillment of it in that gentle, quiet way by which you lead us into green pastures, and make us to lie down beside still waters. I pray for the courage and boldness to extend the territory of Your Kingdom. 

Enlarge my capacity, my resources, my opportunities  my responsibility and enlarge my influence and boundaries so that I may be fit for Your use and advance Your purpose on the earth. May I be of influence to others by the message of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. There are so many out there who are lost and searching for purpose and hope. Whether it’s on my job, in my home or any other aspect of daily living let me be a light that shines in the midst of darkness. Strengthen me with Your Holy Spirit and use me for Your glory. I rejoice now in the promises that surround me, the love that upholds me, and the grace that leads me along. I make this prayer through the matchless name of Jesus Christ, my Lord.  Amen!