Do You Have The Guts And Faith To Pray This Prayer For Your Life & Youth Group?

After discovering one of my key life-passages in a list of names in Genesis, I try and always force myself to read through the lists in the Bible and not just skim them.

I am reading through 1 Chronicles right now and forcing myself to read the lists that go on for 9 chapters.  And I'm glad I have!

Why?  I found this little nugget the other day...

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
"9There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request."


Isn't that an amazingly bold prayer?

A guy named "Jabez"  (his name sounds like a Hebrew term meaning "distress" or "pain.") has the nerve to as God to bless him, extend his lands, be with him in all he does, and keep him from all trouble and pain and - this is the crazy part - GOD DOES!!

Did you hear that?  God blessed him!

Why are we so apprehensive to ask God with the same boldness?

My kids are NEVER apprehensive when they ask for things!  And no matter how many times I say "No" to past requests they still ask for more and still ask for big things!!

**I'm NOT saying God will give you everything that you ask for.  He won't.  (And that's a good thing.)  What I AM saying is that God will probably give you a lot more than you are willing (or have the nerve) to ask for.  But you have to ask!


James 4:2 says it like this, "And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it."

What if you COULD have more in your life and youth ministry, but you don't have it because you aren't asking for it?  Would you be brave and bold enough to pray like Jabez did?  Maybe a prayer something like this...

Jabez's Prayer For Youth Pastors: "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge our youth group!  Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!" 


And as you pray this prayer make sure to seek God and his will, so that having him bless you by answering this prayer would be something that would be pleasing to HIM!
 
Photo by Lel4nd