PRAYER FOR A CHANGE (1)

PRAYER FOR A CHANGE (1)

Jabez was a child of circumstances that took a step into his destiny and decided to turn it around on the altar of prayer. If children were to have a choice of whom to parent them or the circumstances into which they were born I am sure many people who have children today may not have and others may have more than what they had. But there was no choice for us to choose where we would be born on earth. The Bible is a complete life guidebook that has helped and is still helping us to go through life. In the Bible Jabez was not the only child who was a victim of circumstance, there are two other examples that we can relate to, those who have their name born out of their birth circumstances.

Gen 35:16-18 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Here is the story of Benjamin who would have gone through life with the name Benoni. But glory to God because in the case of Benoni (son of my sorrow), his father Jacob quickly changed his name to Benjamin (son of the right hand). Rachael was seeing sorrow but Jacob could see a child that would lift his right hand.

Another example is that of Ichabod. 1Samuel 4:17-21 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel for forty years. And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death, the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.  And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. What a name! Glory has departed, just imagine what will become a child that when his name is called it reminds everyone of the national calamities and unfortunately, his father had died and we do not know what became of him in his adult life.

Out of the blues came the story of Jabez, if you look at the passage from the beginning it was the chronology of names and suddenly the name of Jabez was mentioned for a different reason. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bear him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Here are 3 examples of children born and named negatively as a result of the then situation, one had his father to intervene, and the other had no one to help. Nothing was heard about him again, and the third one prayed for a change and he had his request granted, his story has become a classic example of how God of Israel can rewrite a man’s destiny. Today we have a lot of individuals still struggling with a load of life circumstances, families under the burden of transferred curses that they inherited from their grandparents, and many are looking for relief from such burdens, there is good news for you today, the God of Israel is a living God He has done it for one and He will do it again. Jabez is just a pointer that you can pray for a turn around and your request shall be granted.

Maybe you are from a dysfunctional family, one of your parents has deserted you or even both parents are the cause of your hard life, do not resign to fate, take a step that Jabez took and your life will take a new turn.    

What is Jabez’s prayer all about?

The prayer for a change of story. He was called for a change

It is a prayer for a divine intervention. God must step in

The prayer is for a passionate plea that the situation must be turned around

The prayer is for a definite call for rescue and deliverance

Do not just fold your hands like Jabez, pray for a change of story in your life.