Just Jan

The prayer of Jabez is found in I Chronicles 4:9-10. This prayer was probably in one of the lesser noticed books of the Bible, until an American teacher and author published a book called The Prayer of Jabez in 2000. The man was Bruce Wilkinson. His book has sold more than 20 million copies and has challenged people worldwide to pray this prayer.

‘Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” ¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my ^[b]territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”

God is the author of the prayer of Jabez. But Bruce Wilkinson explains the scripture in a way that we can truly understand what God meant in this bible passage. He shares what the prayer meant to him and how it changed his life. He makes it very clear that the prayer of Jabez is not a magic formula that brings great blessings of prosperity. This prayer provides God’s protection as He gives the opportunity to enlarge your territory for the Lord. Mr. Wilkerson shares how his ministry has grown worldwide–not because of him, but because he has continued to PRAY and ask God to increase his territory that he might share the gospel to others.

If you have never read this book, The Prayer of Jabez, I encourage you to do so. And if teenagers are in your life, Mr. Wilkinson has written a version especially for teens entitled The Prayer of Jabez for Teens. Of course, you can turn to I Chronicles 4:9-10 and read Jabez’s prayer right now. I just encourage you to also read the book because it is fascinating to see how the commitment to pray changed Mr. Wilkinson’s life–not to mention the thousands of people who came to the Lord as a result of faith in God behind the prayer.