Enlarge & Abide
1 Chronicles 4:10 “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 God granted him that which he requested.” (KJV, emphasis added).
Jabez did not only ask that God will bless him indeed and in reality. Jabez also asked God to enlarge his coast, enlarge his territory. Read the rest of this entry
Every Persistent One
Matthew 7:8 “For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.” (TPT)
The New Living Translation puts it this way, For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry
Keep At It!
1 Chronicles 4:10 “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would wonderfully bless me… Bless me, O bless me!” (LB & MSG)
What Jabez was saying to God in essence was, come and bless me indeed. I want these blessings translated from spiritual blessings in heavenly places, to physical blessings in earthly places. Read the rest of this entry
Indeed
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (NKJV, emphasis added).
If what Jabez prayed was not recorded, we would not know. But thank God, the prayer Jabez prayed was recorded for us so we can also pray it. Read the rest of this entry
Called!
1 Chronicles 4:9 “Jabez, whose name commemorates his mother’s labour pains…” (The Voice)
Jabez, as you can imagine, went about life with this label, this name tag, “he that causes pain”. As you can imagine, it probably was difficult for Jabez to find a wife. Imagine he is courting a lady and she takes him home to her father. And her father asks him, “What is your name young man?”
Identifiers
1 Chronicles 4:9 “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.”
As I was waiting, seeking God, and watching with God over this season, the Lord said to me, “I Will Give You A Name”. When God says to you, “I Will Give You A Name”, naturally what comes to my mind is that God will give me a new name.
Your Name Is?
Genesis 32:27-28 “[The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God] …” (AMPC)
Names are very, very powerful. Names are tools of identification and because names are tools for identification, they inadvertently become a tool for identity. When you are called a certain name, after a while you derive your identity from that name.
The Key
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (LB)
One of the things that keeps people from being grateful is when they are stuck in the previous chapter. Your life is like a book if you get to a chapter where tough things happen. Read the rest of this entry
Learn
2 Timothy 3:16 “All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right” (The Voice)
The three things that happen to everyone, that if managed properly will lead to more; the first is AGE, the second is LOSS. When you look at every life that is great, and everyone that is worth listening to, because not everybody is worth listening to. Read the rest of this entry
