Jabez

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez is remembered for a prayer request rather than a heroic act. In his prayer, he asked God to bless him, help him his work ( enlarge my territory), be with him in all he did, and keep him from evil and harm. Jabez acknowledged God as the true center of his work. When we pray for God's blessings, we should also pray that he will take his rightful position as Lord over our work, our family time, and our recreation. Obeying him in daily responsibilities is heroic living.

Jabez prayed specifically to be protected from harm and pain. We live in a fallen world filled with sin, and it is important to ask God to keep us safe from the unavoidable evil that comes our way. But we must also avoid evil motives, desires, and actions that begin with us. Therefore, not only must we seek Gods protection from evil, but we must also ask God to guard our thoughts and actions. We can begin to utilize his protection by filling our minds with positive thoughts and attitudes.

Never Weary

Never weary in prayer. When one day you see how unexpectedly your
prayer has been answered, then you will deeply regret that you have
prayed so little. Prayer changes things for you. Practice praying
until your trust in God has become strong, or at least stronger....and
then pray on, because it has become so much a habit that you need it
daily. Then keep praying until prayer seems to become communion with
God. That is the note on which true times of prayer should end." -Jack
Sneed

Believe And Not Pray?

Faith is to the soul what life is to the body. Prayer is to
faith what breath is to the body. How a person can live and not
breathe is past my comprehension, and how a person can believe
and not pray is past my comprehension too.

- J. C. Ryle

The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and
Achaia -- your faith in God has become known everywhere.
-- 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Neglecting Prayer

The early church had no large buildings, well-financed budgets, or
long-range plans. While theses things may all be helpful in the
twenty-first century, none of them are indispensable: prayer is. When
the disciples realized they were neglecting prayer, they reminded the
church of their first priority and called the church to elect deacons
so they could return to praying (see Acts 6).

-Douglas A. Kamstra in
The Praying Church Idea Book,p.13.

Search me, O God

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting" Psalm 139:23-24

This week, open your life to the Father so that He can clean out the clutter. Let Him bring to light anything that is keeping you from experiencing all that He has to offer. Don't resist Him. He wants your life to be filled with His abundance and wants to rid you of anything that dilutes His power in you. Write down what He brings to mind.

Jennifer Kennedy Dean
The Praying Life Foundation
www.nationaldayofprayer.org

Pray & Help Spread the Gospel

VERSE:
Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and
be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1

THOUGHT:
What can you do to help the spread of the Gospel and help
increase the number of those who are saved each day? Well, there
are many things: put in a good word for Jesus, share your faith
with a friend, go on a mission trip, send financial support to a
missionary, and many others. But one of the most important things
you can do is to pray! Pray for missionaries and preachers and
those who minister and share the Word of God and the grace of Jesus
through the Internet, radio, television, and print. Pray for the
message to spread rapidly and pray for it to grow in power and
influence

www.heartlight.org