14 April | Teens
«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 that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.» 1 Chronicles 4: 10
Have you heard of Jabez? His name appears in the Bible. He became famous in Christian circles because he prayed a very special prayer. Jabez’s name meant “pain,” but he didn't let that define his life. Instead, he offered a powerful prayer to God. He asked, “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!” And you know what happened? God granted his request!
Jabez's prayer is short, but it has everything we need to have a good day and to grow in life. Asking for God's blessing is like asking Him to be with us in everything we do, helping us make good decisions and be better. Asking for more territory means asking for new opportunities and experiences. Somehow, helping us to “go further.” And to ask for protection from evil is to ask God to keep us safe and to protect us from this evil world.
Often, we find that our prayers need to be filled with words that are complicated or too long. But looking at the prayer of Jabez, and even to the “Lord’s prayer,” we see that the important thing is to know what to ask for and to give thanks in a simple way. Short, heartfelt prayers can be very powerful. Why not try to pray like this every day?
Take Action
Memorize the prayer of Jabez. Share it with your family and, as often as you can, pray that prayer together. It is a simple and powerful way to ask God for a blessed day full of opportunities and protection.