“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”. 1 Chronicles 4:10(KJV).
One can remain at the same level marking time and complaining bitterly or one can chose to effect a change. So many people see themselves in very ugly situations, it could be affliction, frustration or poverty, instead of believing God and exercising their faith to change their situation, they rather fold their hands and wait for God to bring the needed change. For some, the mindset is “if God wants me healed, he will heal me”, if God wants to prosper me, he will do so. If God want me to get married, he will give me a life partner. They fail to understand that it is not all in the hand of God. We are involved in our destiny realization. It doesn’t matter how much God wants you to prosper, he wants to partner with you. Some situation should challenge us to wake up from comfort zone, engage the word, spend time in prayer and put our faith to work to bring about the needed change.
Jabez saw himself in very unpleasant situation. Frustration and affliction had set in. It was like one operating under a curse, not seeing reward for all his toiling. His life was characterized with sorrow, failure, poverty and frustration. He rose up and took responsibility for his destiny. He decides that enough is enough. He engaged in the good fight of faith. See his prayer line – five points agenda:
Bless me indeed
Enlarge my coast
May your hand be with me – show me your saving hand.
Keep me from evil.
Deliver me from grief.
See the result –God granted him his request.
PRAYER: God, help me to provoke positive change in my life
Rev. Vincent Diolu