“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.” – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

In November 2000, a tiny book entitled “The Prayer of Jabez” was released. The book is based on 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Author Bruce Wilkinson has broken down the verse to demonstrate how a person can pray for himself or herself to be blessed so that their ministry to others may grow and Christ receives the glory.

Used first by Wilkinson in 1972 as a seminary student, he has seen his ministry “Walk-Through-The-Bible” grow from his own standup teaching to a worldwide teaching ministry.

In 2002, Bruce felt the Lord’s call to minister in Africa. He started “Dream for Africa” a faith-based humanitarian movement that helps the poor nations in sub-Sahara Africa find solutions to hunger, poverty, and AIDS prevention. Still praying that the Lord would use him in a way that brings glory to Christ, Bruce prayed in 2003 that 100,000 gardens would be planted in 2004 in Africa. He didn’t know where the volunteers to help plant those gardens would come from nor did he have the materials for those gardens. But miraculously, more than 100,000 new gardens were planted in 2004 that provided food for over 500,000 people in Africa

The Lord is looking for those men and women who want to be used by Him. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to use you in a way that will bring honor and glory to Him.

“This petition has radically changed what I expect from God and what I experience every day by his power” – Bruce Wilkinson

God’s Word: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Luke 11:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, CHRONICLES AND KINGS pkennedy6@yahoo.com