March 23, 2010 5:22 AM
Sam wrote:
How many of you have heard of 'The Prayer of Jabez'? Probably you have heard of it, it is a book written by a guy named Bruce Wilkinson. Actually, the entire title is "The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life". In the book, Mr. Wilkinson offers this: "I challenge you to make the Jabez prayer for blessing part of the daily fabric of your life. To do that, I encourage you to follow unwaveringly the plan outlined here for the next thirty days. By the end of that time, you'll be noticing significant changes in your life, and the prayer will be on its way to becoming a treasured, lifelong habit."
NOW, do you know what this book is based upon? Of course, the prayer of Jabez. And if you read your assignment today, you'd find that very prayer in chapter 4, verses 9 and 10. It reads: "...Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harms so that I will be free from pain.' (the Hebrew word, jabez, means (or sounds like, pain).
Now, I think that prayer is a good thing. I believe God listens to our prayers, and when He wants to act on them, He does. However, to fully believe what Mr. Wilkinson is suggesting, is a bit out of my range. I don't think just because you make it a habit to pray for 'territory enlargement', or 'to be free from pain', that God will make that happen. I think there are OTHER things that can be done to make those things happen, in addition to the prayer. One must work hard, generally, to do well. Even then, and even with constant prayer, pain may, no, WILL, come. There is no doubt that each of us will experience pain, both physical and emotional, throughout our lives, no matter how much we invoke this Prayer of Jabez.
Unfortunately, many people tend to put TOO MUCH faith in prayer. We all hear the stories of children dying because their parents didn't take them to the doctors, but simply prayed for them. Prayer is good, but I don't believe it is as Mr. Wilkinson suggests, THE answer to success.
I say, continue to pray, but pray for others. Pray for others you know (or don't even know) for THEIR well being. And, like Solomon praying for wisdom rather than riches, God may just reward you for your prayers for others. My dad is who I pray for the most. And then my mom. And then my wife, And then other family members struggling in life. And then, others, to include you all. I also DO pray for myself quite a bit, but I think God probably listens to, and works on, those prayers I pray for others more than those I pray for myself. I DO believe God answers a lot of my personal prayers however, as I believe God is just. But will I suffer pain? Absolutely? Will you. Uh-uh. So, I am an advocate that you increase your prayer life, for sure, but pray more for others than invoking the 'selfish' prayer of Jabez.
How many of you have heard of 'The Prayer of Jabez'? Probably you have heard of it, it is a book written by a guy named Bruce Wilkinson. Actually, the entire title is "The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life". In the book, Mr. Wilkinson offers this: "I challenge you to make the Jabez prayer for blessing part of the daily fabric of your life. To do that, I encourage you to follow unwaveringly the plan outlined here for the next thirty days. By the end of that time, you'll be noticing significant changes in your life, and the prayer will be on its way to becoming a treasured, lifelong habit."
NOW, do you know what this book is based upon? Of course, the prayer of Jabez. And if you read your assignment today, you'd find that very prayer in chapter 4, verses 9 and 10. It reads: "...Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harms so that I will be free from pain.' (the Hebrew word, jabez, means (or sounds like, pain).
Now, I think that prayer is a good thing. I believe God listens to our prayers, and when He wants to act on them, He does. However, to fully believe what Mr. Wilkinson is suggesting, is a bit out of my range. I don't think just because you make it a habit to pray for 'territory enlargement', or 'to be free from pain', that God will make that happen. I think there are OTHER things that can be done to make those things happen, in addition to the prayer. One must work hard, generally, to do well. Even then, and even with constant prayer, pain may, no, WILL, come. There is no doubt that each of us will experience pain, both physical and emotional, throughout our lives, no matter how much we invoke this Prayer of Jabez.
Unfortunately, many people tend to put TOO MUCH faith in prayer. We all hear the stories of children dying because their parents didn't take them to the doctors, but simply prayed for them. Prayer is good, but I don't believe it is as Mr. Wilkinson suggests, THE answer to success.
I say, continue to pray, but pray for others. Pray for others you know (or don't even know) for THEIR well being. And, like Solomon praying for wisdom rather than riches, God may just reward you for your prayers for others. My dad is who I pray for the most. And then my mom. And then my wife, And then other family members struggling in life. And then, others, to include you all. I also DO pray for myself quite a bit, but I think God probably listens to, and works on, those prayers I pray for others more than those I pray for myself. I DO believe God answers a lot of my personal prayers however, as I believe God is just. But will I suffer pain? Absolutely? Will you. Uh-uh. So, I am an advocate that you increase your prayer life, for sure, but pray more for others than invoking the 'selfish' prayer of Jabez.
God is Great!
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People in England were coming up to me, saying, My mother and father turned me on to your music. This happened to me 20 years ago. When I was 40 they were saying that.
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We're betting, at this place and this time, we have people ready for change in the state of Maryland.
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