The Jabez Prayer
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
"Oh,that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain!"
So God granted him what he requested.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Why did God answer his prayer? What did he actually do to rise above the rest?
There's a little fable about a Mr.Jones who dies and goes to heaven. Peter is waiting at the gates to give him a tour. Amid the splendor of golden streets, beautiful mansions, and choirs of angels that Peter shows him, Mr.Jones notices an odd-looking building. He thinks it looks like an enormous warehouse - it has no windows and only one door. But when he asks to see inside, Peter hesitates. "You really don't want to see what's in there," he tells the new arrival. Why would there be any secrets in heaven? Jones wonders. What incredible surprise could be waiting for me in there? When the official tour is over he's still wondering, so he asks again to see inside the structure. Finally Peter relents. When the apostle opens the door, Mr.Jones almost knocks him over in his haste to enter. It turns out that the enormous building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each stacked neatly with white boxes tied in red ribbons.
"These boxes all have names on them," Mr. Jones muses aloud. Then turning to Peter he asks, "Do I have one?"
"Yes, you do." Peter tries to guide Mr.Jones back outside. "Frankly," Peter says, "if I were you...." But Mr.Jones is already dashing towards the "J" aisle to find his box. Peter follows, shaking his head. He catches up with Mr.Jones just as he is slipping the red ribbon off his box and popping the lid. Looking inside,Jones has a moment of instant recognition, and he lets out a deep sigh like the ones Peter has heard so many times before. Because there in Mr. Jone's white box are all the blessings that God wanted to give to him while he was on earth...but Mr.Jones had never asked.
"
Ask," promised Jesus,"
and it will be given to you"(Matthew 7:7). "
You do not have because you do not ask," said James (James 4:2). Even though there is no limit to God's goodness, if you didn't ask Him for a blessing yesterday, you didn't get all that you were supposed to have. That's the catch- if you don't ask for His blessing, you forfeit those that come to you only when you ask. In the same way that a father is honored to have a child beg for his blessing, your Father is delighted to respond generously when His blessing is what you covet most.
Guys just wanna share with you all one part of the story in the book im reading.. It shows us why some prayers get answered and some don't.. and why some of us have more blessings some dont.. its simple and its because you did not ask.. or you are not as desperate to receive it.. I learnt it both from the book and brother Ian today.. He told us a story,but the main point of it is that if you have heart that really desires blessing.. yes, the Lord will give it to you.. for He love us..just pray boldly, be genuine..just wanna thank Him for answering my prayers.. i got many friends for cellgroup today..and we sure had a great time yea.. but i know that i will persuade them to come for services and next week too.. soon one day they will be commited to You..i believe E243 will grow..The young believers..walking with Jesus.. and day by day we will grow into strong christians!praise the Lord!!!
