Prayer did not come easy to me. I grew up in a church where the elders could pray down heaven. I was often intimidated by the way the Mothers and Elders prayed. As I grew in God, I began to understand that people pray to God based upon their understanding of God or based on who God has been in their lives. God may be a “Genie” God to you. You know….the God “pay my rent, pay my bills, bless me God.” God may be a “make this happen, open this door” God to you. Your personal experiences with God tend to make all the difference.

The prayer of Jabez helped me understand the simplicity of prayer. Prayer is my way of talking to God. I can express my fears, my regrets, my hopes and dreams. I can reverence God for who he is in my life. I can express my disappointment and confusion. I can express my gratitude, and I can share my concerns.

Ask yourself the following questions?

Who are you praying to?

• Jabez knew God as his Lord and the God of Israel.

What are you praying for?

• Jabez asked God to bless me him and enlarge his territory.

Why are you praying?

• Jabez knew that he needed God’s help to accomplish what he asked.

How do you want God to help?

• Jabez wanted God to keep him from evil.

Trust that God hears your prayers

• God answered Jabez’s prayer.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV) 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.