what I am praying for today.....

Yesterday I opened up a new series on prayer and begin with the much talked about prayer of Jabez. I was amazed after reading the scripture about this amazing man's life that much of the "talk" surrounding this prayer had much more to do with a get rich scheme, and becoming a contemporary fad than the truth found in this scripture.

Jabaz was a leader. The Bible tells us that he was more honorable than all of his brothers implying he may have been using his leadership skills in some sort of political, or business arena. Whatever it was that he did, it was important to Jabez that he had lots of influence. Looking at the prayer, Jabaz asked God to bless him, but having a better understanding of the Covenant that God had made with the children of Israel, Jabez begin to detail exactly what kind of blessing that he would ask for.

He begin by asking that the Lord would increase his coasts, or territory. This is not a reference to just having more dirt, or rental property as some have suggested. He prayed this prayer as a leader. A leader praying for increase of his or her territory is asking for INFLUENCE. When we believers pray for the nations we are not asking for their hotels, houses, and huts, we are asking for the people to be receptive to what we have to say to them because of our influence in their lives.

Secondly, Jabez asked for the hand of the Lord to be on him. Think about it. What is the Anointing of God's Spirit for? It's for the people that we influence. Jabez prayed that God would put His hand on him representing the Spirit of God being with him everywhere that Jabez went.

Thirdly, Jabez asked the Lord to keep him from evil. I believe that he recognized the fact that so many believers are being taken out then and now not just by enemies with guns and knives, but internal enemies of lust, greed, envy, and manipulation. "Lord, keep me from evil!" This sounds much like the Lord's prayer doesn't it?

And lastly, Jabez asked the Lord to keep him from causing harm to others. Oh that leaders would make this a prayer of theirs today. He literally asked the Lord to help him to never cause harm with his influence.

The following is maybe a longer and more current version of the prayer that Jabez would have prayed if he were alive today.

The Prayer of Jabez New Testament style

 Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. First, I want to praise and thank you for your many blessings. You have been so good to me, and all of my family. Lord, as it is, you have raised me up through the pain of my birth into an honorable position. I recognize that You and you alone placed me in this position of leadership, and you have given to me the words I am to say, and the people I am to meet.

So Father, I ask you to enlarge my coasts, my territory, the lands and people groups that I am to influence with your truths. You said, that I was to ask of you and you would give to me the heathern for my inheritance. Father, I am asking. Open up these doors of utterance so that I may have more influence than I ever thought possible.  

Secondly Father, I refuse to go anywhere, or speak to anyone lest your hand is upon me. Fill me with your Spirit, and lead me, guide me, and direct me. I need you to be my shield and my buckler. My front and rear guard, anoint me to be blessed, yet to always be a blessing to others. Let everything that you are be reflected in everything that I do.  

Father guard my spirit, soul and my body from enemies that would try to harm me, but more than that, Father guard my mind from the spirit of the age, and the lusts and desires that take down so many of our nations leaders.

And Lord, finally, don’t let me ever get to a place to where my influence is abused by me and will cause harm to others.