The Prayer of Jabez is one of the most famous prayers found in Scripture. That’s an interesting fact considering we don’t have a wealth of information about Jabez.
In fact, Jabez’s name only appears three times in Scripture, each of them in 1 Chronicles 4, the same part of the Bible where we find his now famous prayer.
Before we dive into the Prayer of Jabez and how to pray the powerful promises of God over your life by using this prayer, let’s briefly discuss who Jabez was based on the little information that we have.
1 Chronicles 4:9 (NIV)
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
In Old Testament times, a person’s name meant more than names mean in our Western culture today. The name that a person received at birth had the power to dictate the entire course of their lives.
The naming process in ancient times included a religious ceremony. During these ceremonies, the name a person received would serve as a sort of prophecy over the lives that they would lead.
Jabez’s older siblings didn’t pursue righteousness. That’s why the first mention of Jabez comes with the declaration that he was “more honorable than his brothers.” We don’t have a lot of information about them, either. However, we can ascertain from this passage that they didn’t live honorable lives.
By the time Jabez’s mother gave birth to him, she was overcome with grief. That’s why his name literally means “sorrow” or “one born in grief.” After seeing the issues faced by Jabez’s older siblings, his mother was anything but optimistic when it came time to give birth to him.
However, Jabez was committed to breaking the generational curse that seemed to have a hold on his family.
A child born with very little hope for the future, Jabez set his heart toward God. We don’t know the details of the life that he lived as an adult. We don’t know anything about the work that he did, and we never receive any information about a family that he had later in life.
In one verse, we find out that he was given a painful name at birth. In the following verse, we find his famous prayer. After that, Jabez’s life is largely a mystery.
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
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 that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Jabez’s prayer is not an intricate one. He doesn’t take a deep dive into theology in this prayer. Instead, he asks God for four things. First, he asked for God’s blessings on his life.
Second, he wanted God to enlarge his territory. Jabez also prayed for God’s hand to be with him, and finally, he asked for a life that would be free of pain.
Aren’t those the things that we all want? Blessings, prosperity, protection, and happiness were at the heart of Jabez’s prayer. Today, pray the prayer of Jabez over your own life.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father, today I am asking for the same things that Jabez asked you for thousands of years ago. Lord, bless me. Bless me with the things that You have for Your children.
I want to be a person who experiences peace, joy, hope, and love with those around me. Bless me to walk in peace with everyone I interact with. Let me experience the kind of joy that only comes from You.
Bless me with a level of hope that allows me to endure adversity with the knowledge that You are working everything together for my good. Help me to give and receive the kind of love that You place in the hearts of Your people.
Father, enlarge my territory. Bless my finances as I look for opportunities to serve you fully with the resources I have. Bless me so I can be a blessing to others. Keep your hand upon me.
I know that Your hand provides power and protection. But it also represents Your approval. Help me to live a life that is worthy of Your divine approval.
Finally, protect me from pain. There is so much suffering in this world, and I know there are people dealing with mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil. I’m asking You to protect me from those things. In Christ’s name, Amen.
1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
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 that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
As we get ready to approach God with praise and thanksgiving, let’s revisit Jabez’s prayer with a special focus on the end of the verse. “And God granted his request.”
There was no bargaining. God didn’t tell Jabez that He would grant him the four things he asked for if Jabez met certain conditions. The Bible teaches us that Jabez lived more honorably than his older brothers and that God granted him the things that he asked for.
Today, thank God in advance for the fact that He is granting you the things that you’re asking Him for. When we pray Scripture, the Holy Spirit-inspired Word of God, we can rest assured that He is going to grant us the things that we ask Him for.
Thank God
Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing the prayers of Your people. Thank You for allowing Jabez to move past the pain that he was born into, and for the fact that his success in life means that I can overcome anything that is in my past.
Thank You for protecting me, blessing me, prospering me, and giving me Your approval as I seek Your will for my life. In Christ’s name, Amen.