Overcome Pain with Prayer this 2014
Pain comes in different forms, shapes and sizes. There is the obvious physical pain, but there are others such as emotional, relational, even financial pain.
The Very Mention of His Name Brought Pain
You may have heard of the Prayer of Jabez, it became very popular about a decade ago. Jabez, was the name a mother gave her son for the pain that he had caused her.
""His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ""I gave birth to him in pain.'- 1Chronicles 4:9b
We all know giving birth in itself is painful, yet her experience must have been something else, to warrant such a reaction. It is not certain what specifically caused her the pain. Whatever it was she was not very happy about it, enough to curse her son with such a name.
In the midst of being cursed by his mother Jabez cries out to God:
""Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ""Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! 1Chronicle 4:10a
Being Bold Despite Our Pain
He did not just cry out to God, he emboldened himself by faith to ask God, if not, demand from Him to ""bless me.- I know you have heard well meaning preachers say, ""Don't settle for a bless me kind of faith.- But Jabez continued
""Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.- And God granted his request.- 1Chronicles 4:10b
His prayer not only asked God to bless him but to keep him away from harm and pain. And the Bible says, God granted his request.
No matter what you're facing, no matter what traumas in the long or recent past, here's a three point prayer outline we can use this year to see God deliver us from any kind of pain.
Three Things We Can Learn From Jabez
First, boldly ask God to bless you. Don't let your religious mindset and false humility stop you from getting all that God has to offer. This year, ASK God to bless you with everything that heaven has to offer. Remember ask boldly, even though others may say you don't deserve it.
Secondly, boldly ask God to enlarge your territory. All too often we confine ourselves with our own limitations rather than trusting that God can do great things in us, through us and for us.
This year ask God for a bigger things. Like Jabez do not let your pain, limitations and even what your family says about you put a cap on what God wants to for you. Believe for enlargement this year.
Lastly, Jabez asked God to keep His hand upon Him. That means Lord guide me. I know that ultimately to be free from harm and pain is to have Your hand lead, guide and protect me.
This year pray this prayer in every opportunity and then see God bless you, enlarge your influence and keep His hand on you.
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