Prayer of Jabez ~ 1 Chronicles 4:10

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)

There is only one God and He should be the center of our work. Jabez knew that the God he believed in is the source of all blessings. Let us too invite God into our life and ask for His blessings. There is nothing wrong in asking God for His blessing. Proverbs 16:3, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." God wants to hear that we need Him through our prayer from deep within our hearts. 1 Chronicles 5:20, "God answers prayers when you trust Him". Jabez knew his limitation, and that God is so powerful therefore He cried out to God for help. Jabez is asking that God would give him more strength, wisdom, patience, love, and understanding so that he can bring glory to God. In the hands of God, Jabez surrenders all and ask God to lead him, protect him and free from pain. Without God’s hand leading and guiding us, the blessings would be meaningless. GOd answer Jabez request, God caused Jabez’s end to be better than his beginning.

Pray like Jabez and we will begin to see God move in mighty ways!

This is the Lord - we have waited for him

What can satisfy the deepest hunger and longing of the human heart? 

Isaiah prophesied that God would provide a heavenly banquet for all peoples and would destroy death once and for all (Isaiah 25:6-8). Jesus came to fulfill that promise. Jesus' miracles are both a sign of God’s kingdom and a demonstration of God's power. They also show the magnitude of God’s mercy.

When the disciples were confronted by Jesus with the task of feeding four thousand people many miles away from any source of food, they exclaimed: Where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them? The Israelites were confronted with the same dilemma when they fled Egypt and found themselves in a barren wilderness. Like the miraculous provision of manna in the wilderness, Jesus, himself provides bread in abundance for the hungry crowd who came out into the desert to seek him. The gospel records that all were satisfied and they took up what was leftover.

In the multiplication of the loaves and fishes we see a sign and a symbol of what God always does. God knows our needs and he cares. When God gives, he gives in abundance. The gospel account records that the leftovers from the miraculous meal was more than seven times the amount they began with. Seven is a symbol of completion and wholeness. When God gives, he gives until we are satisfied. When God works for his people he gives abundantly - more than we could deserve and more than we need. He nourishes us with his life-giving word and with the bread of heaven. In the kingdom of heaven God will feast us at his banquet table. Are you satisfied with God's provision for you? And do you long with expectant hope for the coming of his kingdom in all its fullness?

Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the longing and hunger in our hearts. May I thirst for your kingdom and find joy in your presence. Give me the true bread of heaven and nourish me with your life-giving word.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East