9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 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.
Are you like Jabez? Jabez knew that his name brought constant reminders of pain and agony that he brought to his mother as he came into the world. Every time someone said his name he was reminded of the pain he brought to his mother. He likely hated the life he lived day in and day out. Can you imagine how that played on his self esteem daily? Yet, it didn't deter him from calling out to God. Jabez asked the Lord to bless him indeed. We were all born into a particular life. God placed us all in chosen families with particular situations. Some of us have lived a nice cushy life where everything has come up daisies. Others of us have wanted more out of life and have sought out better lives than we had growing up. We all have story but the question is.....are we like Jabez and seeking out the right path?
Have you prayed and asked God to bless you indeed? When men are sad, they seek out the bottle or work it off. When women are sad, chocolate goes a very long way. When Jabez was sad, he sought out God. Think back to when you were little and wanted a particular toy so bad you could taste it. Who did you go to? Did you go to the parent that always said no? No way! You sought out the parent that you knew you could work over and melt in order to get it. Problem is today that we have grown up and we try to take care of things ourselves. Are you seeking the right source to fulfill your needs as Jabez did?
Jabez didn't just sit back and soak up his misery and he didn't just expect God to know he was unhappy. Jabez did exactly as we should.....he sought out God for help and relied on God to fulfill his needs.
Notice what happened at the end of verse 10......"And God granted him what he had requested". Is it because Jabez prayed that prayer and then decided to do something himself without God? Nope. He gave it completely to God. If you refuse to let God take control of any part of your life, your requests will fall upon deaf ears. You must be willing to turn your entire life and work over to God and let Him take charge of your life.
Our scripture tells us, in so many words, that Jabez was unhappy with the life he had. Yet, there was a word used in the scripture that described Jabez. Did you catch it? Jabez was MORE honorable than his brothers. What do you suppose made him honorable?
You have to be willing to give MORE to expect MORE. If you belong to a church, your name is on the roll. Is that good enough for you? When you are gone from this earth, do you want to just be known as a name on a church's roll or do you want to be known for the way you lived for the King? Be like Jabez.....be MORE.
Do MORE....
Be MORE....
Expect MORE....
Know MORE....
Study MORE....
Read MORE....
Pray MORE....
The bible says Jabez was MORE honorable....what will the bible say about you?
10 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.
Are you like Jabez? Jabez knew that his name brought constant reminders of pain and agony that he brought to his mother as he came into the world. Every time someone said his name he was reminded of the pain he brought to his mother. He likely hated the life he lived day in and day out. Can you imagine how that played on his self esteem daily? Yet, it didn't deter him from calling out to God. Jabez asked the Lord to bless him indeed. We were all born into a particular life. God placed us all in chosen families with particular situations. Some of us have lived a nice cushy life where everything has come up daisies. Others of us have wanted more out of life and have sought out better lives than we had growing up. We all have story but the question is.....are we like Jabez and seeking out the right path?
Have you prayed and asked God to bless you indeed? When men are sad, they seek out the bottle or work it off. When women are sad, chocolate goes a very long way. When Jabez was sad, he sought out God. Think back to when you were little and wanted a particular toy so bad you could taste it. Who did you go to? Did you go to the parent that always said no? No way! You sought out the parent that you knew you could work over and melt in order to get it. Problem is today that we have grown up and we try to take care of things ourselves. Are you seeking the right source to fulfill your needs as Jabez did?
Jabez didn't just sit back and soak up his misery and he didn't just expect God to know he was unhappy. Jabez did exactly as we should.....he sought out God for help and relied on God to fulfill his needs.
Notice what happened at the end of verse 10......"And God granted him what he had requested". Is it because Jabez prayed that prayer and then decided to do something himself without God? Nope. He gave it completely to God. If you refuse to let God take control of any part of your life, your requests will fall upon deaf ears. You must be willing to turn your entire life and work over to God and let Him take charge of your life.
Our scripture tells us, in so many words, that Jabez was unhappy with the life he had. Yet, there was a word used in the scripture that described Jabez. Did you catch it? Jabez was MORE honorable than his brothers. What do you suppose made him honorable?
You have to be willing to give MORE to expect MORE. If you belong to a church, your name is on the roll. Is that good enough for you? When you are gone from this earth, do you want to just be known as a name on a church's roll or do you want to be known for the way you lived for the King? Be like Jabez.....be MORE.
Do MORE....
Be MORE....
Expect MORE....
Know MORE....
Study MORE....
Read MORE....
Pray MORE....
The bible says Jabez was MORE honorable....what will the bible say about you?
