Prayers That Matter

The Prayer of Jabez

Eph 6:18  Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is.

1. Pray for blessing.

1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV

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.

Psalm 18:35 NIV

35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.

Genesis 12:2 NLT

2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

2. Pray for influence.

1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV

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.

Ephesians 1:18 NIV

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

Psalm 2:8 NIV

8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

3. Pray for presence.

1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV

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.

Acts 11:21 NIV

21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Exodus 33:15–17 NIV

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

4. Pray for protection.

1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV

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 Peter 5:8 NIV

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Romans 8:35–37 NIV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Prayer isn’t about God moving toward us.

Prayer is about us moving toward God.