“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 Chronicles 4:10).

The way to be truly great, is to seek to do God’s will and to pray earnestly. Here is the prayer made by a man languishing in pain and sorrow. Jabez had understanding that those who diligently sought God in prayers will have their request granted. (Psalm 65:2). He was a man of prayer little wonder heaven had respect for his prayers and never allowed it fall to the ground. He was fervent and effectual in his prayers to the living and true God, who alone can hear and answer prayer; and, in prayer he regarded him as a God in covenant with his people. Are you in dare need of a change? Do you need a miracle? Then like never before, you need to cry unto God in the order of Jabez.

Four things are needful that Jabez prayed for. The first was that God would bless him indeed. Why? Because he realised that it is the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich and addeth no sorrow. And since his name typified sorrow, he needed the supernatural and spiritual blessings of the Almighty of which are the best blessings with notable testimonies and real effects. Are you almost giving up? Why not cry out to the Almighty and say Father, bless me indeed with all spiritual and material blessings. The second prayer he made to God was that God should enlarge his coast. God needs to enlarge our hearts for greater things and higher heights. Deep calleth unto deep. We need to have the faith of God to see God in the dark and to only see possibilities in the midst of the impossible. Jabez realised he hailed from Judah- the chosen one that reigneth wit God, the leading and famous tribe of Israel, yet he was wallowing in pain and sorrow so the way out was therefore that God should expand his territory and grant him a mega portion of the land flowing with milk and honey. This was a prayer of a man in dare need of enlargement. Are you almost given up? Are problems holding you bound? Are you really in need of a miracle? Then I announce to you that your miracle is around the corner if and only if you will cry to God to enlarge your coast in the order of Jabez.

The Third request Jabez asked of God was that God’s hand might be with him. Why? Because he knew that only His hands can lift him up, lead, protect and strengthen him, is a hand all-sufficient for us. That he was effectual and fervent in prayer was what made God granted his request. Are you faced with pain and need the finger of God while not cry out to God to intervene by His mighty hand.

The fourth request was that the Lord would keep him from evil- the evil of sin, the evil of trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt, nor make him a Jabez indeed, a man of sorrow. God granted that which he requested. God is ever ready to hear prayer: his ear is not now heavy. Friends, are you weak, weary, sick, afflicted, desolate, forgotten and tagged a failure, disappointment and misfortune like Jabez, if your prayers can be effectual and fervent, then you are next in line for a miracle.

Prayer Lines: Father, bless me indeed, enlarge my coast, let your finger direct my paths and deliver me from the evil one.