"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." 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
Jabez, a son in the genealogy of Judah (Levi), the fourth son of Jacob, who the Bible records was more honorable than his unnamed brothers (1 Chronicles 4:9), prayed that God would bless him, increase his influence and allow him to prosper in all of his endeavors. He also wanted the hand of God to be with him, to lead, guide, direct, protect, and strengthen him. God blessed Jabez and gave him what he asked for.
We know that God hears and answers the prayers of the righteous. If we want the favor of God's blessings, then we need to be more obedient to His Word. We should pray like Jabez prayed and ask God to keep His hand on us, to lead, guide, direct, protect, and strengthen us as we go about doing His work. If we do that, then we just might have more influence and success with people as we spread The Word of God. The Bible does not say exactly how successful Jabez was, but there was a city named Jabez where the scribes dwelt that was probably named after him. (1 Chronicles 2:55) There is no limit to how influential, successful, and prosperous we could become if the hand of God is on us.
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