Prayer of Jabez

I know this came up recently, but I can't find the thread. Maybe someone can point me to it.

Problem is, I know an increasing amount of people who are buying into this--most with the motivation to increase their wealth.

Anyone have any really good thoughts or arguments--for or against?

The number one thing that pops into my head, right of the get-go, is "avoid vain repetitions."

You got it Don! It's rote vain repetition for the "weak in prayer life!" The "name-it-and-claim-it" crowd are having a field day with Dr. Wilkinson's book. Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the prayer or Jabez. The Bible says he was "honorable" and that God granted his request.

But we are not to say this prayer, or the Lord's Prayer, or any memorized prayer in rote repetition. We should talk to God from our hearts in our prayers. A good framework for prayer is:

Praise God
Repentance - ask for forgiveness of our sins
Protection of our family from evil and harm
Intercessory prayer (pray for others)
Pray for yourself - focus on how God can use us for His glory, rather than what God can do for us!
Praise God

I agree with wellsjs on this.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>1 Chron 4:9-10
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain."
Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested.
NASU<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is an Old Covenant prayer. The Nation of Israel was blessed with earthly blessings, while we (the church) are blessed with all spiritual blessings. It has been taken and used as some "lucky" charm prayer.

Hank Hanegraaff has written a book on the "Prayer of Jesus". I thought this book was really bad, the book is small and taken from Matthew 6. Its a copy-cat of the format the Prayer of Jabez. And Hank does endorse the prayer of Jabez.

But I think we should focus on Jesus Prayer. (John 17)

Chet

But prayers are prayers, and directed to God . . .

I don't think that it is necessarily a wealth thing. . .

But if you babble out a rote prayer three times a day, the mind is not likely as engaged as God desires it to be. Why not just speak to God? Now if you want to incorporate the four basic principals covered by Jabez's prayer, and described in the book, that's fine. But do it with your own words and with meaning behind it. God's not interested in a windup music box.

[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: wellsjs ]

I pray the prayer of Jabez regularly but I use my own words. That is the point of the Bruce Wilkinson book. Jabez's prayer is just an example or a pattern for us to follow.

I guess Jabez was blessed because he was direct and honest with God. IMHO that dispensationalism has wreaked havoc on our prayers.

We say that material blessings were for the Jews and spiritual blessings are for Christians. So, therefore, we shouldn't pray for material blessings.

As far as I know, the God of the Jews is still the same God that we pray presently pray to.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wellsjs:
But if you babble out a rote prayer three times a day, the mind is not likely as engaged as God desires it to be. Why not just speak to God? Now if you want to incorporate the four basic principals covered by Jabez's prayer, and described in the book, that's fine. But do it with your own words and with meaning behind it. God's not interested in a windup music box.

[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: wellsjs ]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Why stop with the prayer of Jabez?

Lets go on to the prayer of Solomon

1 Kings 8:23-54.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wellsjs:
Now if you want to incorporate the four basic principals covered by Jabez's prayer, and described in the book, that's fine. But do it with your own words and with meaning behind it. God's not interested in a windup music box.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree with you here. The problem is not with the book or the prayer but with those who are "using" it as a get rich quick prayer. Those who are reciting it without meaning it, are missing what it's all about.

My pastor did a series on sermons from the book and I did not read the book until his series ended. It truly blessed me and encouraged me in my prayer life. Why? To get more of "blessings" for me? NO WAY! It has encouraged me to seek more diligently for God's hand in my life so that I may be a a blessing for others. So that I may "enlarge" my territory, not of property but of opportunities to serve the Lord!

Blessings? I seem to find more conviction and more things I need to give up then to get! Oh I have been blessed indeed! I have been blessed with cleaner lungs, I have been blessed with more time with family, I have been blessed with old friendships renewed and more opportunities to share His Word. No money there, but true blessings indeed.

~Lorelei

So the general consensus is: it's okay/not okay based on motivation and vain repetition?

Meaning, if the motivation is personal gain, and the repetition is nothing more than "say these words 3 times a day," we all agree it's worthless?

But if the motivation is seeking blessings from God, and the repetition is not of words, but of a "formula" (or principle), it's okay?

How about Dr. Bob or Thomas Cassidy? Any thoughts?

If you go back & study on prayer, I believe you'll find it's true meaning is worship.
Our Father teaches, in the prayer of Jabez,
& the model Christ gave to the diciples, that
if we love him we will keep his commandments,
& if we do that we may ask whatsoever we will. If we're asking according to his will,
then we don't ask "amiss", to consume it upon our own lusts. Just a thought

Hey folks, before you run away with this one, look up the Baptist Books/Publications forum. On May 18th there was a similar question posted, which ran for 2 pages. You may look it up and compare!
http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=000008