The Jabez Prayer

QUESTION: The Jabez prayer - Does it work better than other prayers?

ANSWER:

The Jabez prayer is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10: "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 the 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."

People across the world have prayed this prayer and received huge and amazing results! They have been blessed by God in astounding ways! Is this prayer more powerful than other prayers? Is there some magical power in these words? No, but God is the source of all power and blessing and when people ask for it, they receive mighty things from God! Why does there seem to be blessing when people pray the prayer of Jabez? Perhaps God is answering because people are praying!

Acts 12: 5-7 says, "…Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. 'Quick, get up!' he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists."

While this was happening, a group of people were earnestly praying for Peter because he was in great danger! When Peter was released by the angel, he went to tell those who were praying for him that God had answered their prayers! "Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, 'Peter is at the door!' 'You're out of your mind,' they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, 'It must be his angel.' But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison…" (Acts 12:13-17).

God had answered their prayers far beyond their expectations! They were even amazed when Peter stood at the door. Was it the words of their prayers that had saved Peter? No, it was the God to whom they were praying! He is the source of the power.