Jabez was honorable above his brothers;
but his mother named him Jabez [sorrow maker]
saying, Because I bore him in pain.
Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying,
Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border,
and that Your hand might be with me,
and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me!
And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 Amp
Growing up with a name like Sorrow Maker...
makes you not want to live up to your name...
Jabez prayed a prayer that honored God...
bless me...
enlarge my borders...
Your hand be with me...
keep me from evil...
The prayer of Jabez... asks God for blessings... as a confirmation... of His work and presence in his life... and God granted his request...
You do not have, because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly,
to spend it on your passions.
James 4:2-3 ESV
Here we see Jabez... Sorrow Maker... asking God for blessings so he will know God is near... and He is for him...
Really... we could all be named Sorrow Maker...
our lives self-centered and sinful from birth...
Jabez grieved the sorrow he caused...
longed for confirmation of God's hand in his life...
through the seeking of tangible blessings...
We too need to do the same...
ask not because we think we need...
but because we want to know...
He is near... present and at work in our life...
Why do you ask for blessings...? for your self...? or do you ask for blessings as a confirmation of God's presence in your life...?
Check the motive behind your prayers...
seek Him with a heart to honor Him...
not your self...
This week's readings...
Monday 1 Chronicles 6:35-81
Tuesday 1 Chronicles 7
Wednesday 1 Chronicles 8
Thursday 1 Chronicles 9-10
Friday 1 Chronicles 11
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