“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.”
2 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV
“…Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
James 4:2b-3 NKJV
Many people are praying these days. I noticed recently that even a secular “left” news anchor asked a pastor he was interviewing to offer a word of prayer before the interview ended. National crises have a way of arresting everyone’s attention. Spiritual activity, which was once deemed silly, archaic, or unnecessary, suddenly becomes fashionable. Perhaps that is one reason why God allows such things like pandemics. An unseen disease has the ability to directly confront our arrogance and haughtiness as a people. We think we are impervious to wars and diseases because we live in the great 21st century, only to find out that our human abilities, while notable, are still finite and exhaustible. So, like the atheist in the foxhole of a battle, there are many convenient conversions and spiritual turnarounds during a pandemic.
For those whose confessions of faith are legitimate, we of course, rejoice. However, how do I, as a genuine believer, pray during a pandemic?
My mind was drawn to Jabez. Jabez is this obscure figure in the midst of a genealogy who God said was “honorable” (v.9). Jabez prays a prayer which the passage tells us, “God granted what he requested”. It was just a one-sentence prayer, but he was able to take this short prayer and hit the will of God in it. If I ever questioned the concept of prayer changing things, I need look no further than Jabez. The questions now arise, “How do I pray on target?” and “What can I learn from Jabez?”
There are a couple of things I am struck by as I meditate on that thought…
First, I must learn how to ASK.
I think there have been times in my life that I have been a sloppy “asker”. To my embarrassment, I probably “asked” amiss as James would later write. The context of James 4:2-3, is clear that asking God for things which simply satisfy my need for self-consumption or self-actualization, is going to get me nowhere. Prayer is not something to be trifled with or convoluted. If you are seeking God (aside from repentance and salvation), then it best be from a place of clean hands and a pure heart. God cannot be manipulated, snowed, or leveraged. My request must be presented within the context of Kingdom advancement and God’s glory. It is true that the Lord has a great investment in me through Jesus Christ, but it is equally true that my life is not my own, but rather inextricably tied to His. My “asking” needs to be within the purposes of God. I am convinced that God is not somehow “bound” to my whims and carnal desires, but rather He is bound to His purposes and plans which are unfolding in my life. He will protect, resource, heal, and bless when His purposes are at stake. That, I can count on. So, to the best of my knowledge and understanding, I need to ASK according to His will.
Second, I must understand the BLESSING.
The word “blessing” is one of those semi-elastic words which can be used as an umbrella concept. It certainly means “to speak well” and most people use it like they would the phrase, “Give them a nice day”. Truthfully, the word carries with it the impartation or transmission of supernatural favor. To be blessed means to have a quality of existence which is distinguishably different from the “non-blessed”. Jabez asked for a “blessing”. He asked that God’s hand would be manifested in his life. He asked for increased influence and to be kept from evil. His asking was on target because “God granted his request”.
Am I an “asker” like Jabez?
Am I evaluating the motives and intentions of my heart as I pray?
Am I content to leave the details to God concerning His blessing and concentrate on being seen as “honorable” in His sight?
It’s encouraging to see (and hear) the world emphasizing prayer these days…
Let’s make sure we are hitting the right target…
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