YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY : THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
OUTLINE
1. PITIABLE
2. PETITION
3. PATRONAGE
4. PROSPERITY
5. PRESENCE
6. PROTECTION
7. PLEASURE
THE MESSAGE
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR DESTINY : THE PRAYER OF JABEZ :
I Chronicles 4:9-10
1.PITIABLE ?..And his mother called his name Jabez, saying , Because I bare him with sorrow ?
Jabez began his life in a pitiable condition. He was a source of sorrow to his mother. He began his life with a stigma . His future did not look bright. He was living a pathetic and miserable life. But he decided that he was not going to spend the rest of his life in this pitiable condition. He wanted a better and a blessed life. He wanted to change his destiny.
2.PETITION “And Jabez called on the God of Israel , saying , ..?
Jabez decided to call on the Lord to change his destiny. He went directly to the source of all blessing and favour , the Lord himself. He knew that God could transform his life completely. He did not seek promotion and favour from men .He did not look to friends or relatives or influential people to show mercy on him and help him to prosper. He looked to the Lord Himself for the blessing of his life.
3.PATRONAGE ?Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed..?
Jabez called on the Lord to shower His blessings upon him .He wanted God to remove every curse from his life . He wanted the blessing of God upon his life. He wanted the favour and the goodness of God upon his life. He knew that the blessing of God would remove every wretchedness and misery from his life. The blessing of God would enrich every area of his life including the spiritual,physical, material,social etc .
4.PROSPERITY ?and enlarge my coast ..?
Jabez wanted God’s prosperity upon his life. He did not want a stagnant and stunted life. He wanted a life of ever increasing usefulness and influence. He wanted to grow and expand in every area of his life.He wanted the Lord to enlarge his borders and territories. He had an expanding vision and dream for his life and he wanted God to prosper the work of his hands.
5. PRESENCE ?and that thine hand might be with me..?
Jabez wanted the presence of God in his life. He did not just seek after the blessing of God. He wanted the very presence of God in his life. He did not want the Lord to remove His Hand from his life. The Hand of the Lord would assure him of the presence of the Lord. It would ensure victory in his battles, the demonstration of the power of God in his life and a safe guidance in the journey of life. It was an unbeatable partnership when his life was always held in the Hands of God.
6.PROTECTION ? and that thou wouldest keep me from evil..?
Jabez wanted the protection of God upon his life. He realized that he lived in an evil world with many evil forces that could harm him and destroy him. He knew that the only reliable protection for his life was the divine protection of God. He wanted God to keep him from evil. He sought a supernatural covering over his life . He wanted a preventive defence that would keep evil away from him. He desired that divine protection from God.
7.PLEASURE ? that it may not grieve me..?
Jabez desired that his life should not be marred with needless grief and pain and agony. He wanted a life of joy and happiness . He knew that only God can grant such a blessing on his life.As the scriptures say ?At His right hand are pleasures for evermore? He wanted God to grant such a blessing in his life .He did not want to live with a wounded and broken heart all his life. He wanted the Lord to keep such grief away from his life.
This prayer was acceptable in the sight of the Lord and we find that ?God granted him that which he requested ? May the prayer of Jabez be our prayer too and may God grant us that which we request and may our lives and destinies be changed from pitiable conditions to prosperous and blessed ones.
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