I went to a ladies Ministry Tuesday and my sister-in-law, Beverly was the speaker and this is what she brought out:

KJV:

Prayer of Jabez:

1 Chronicles 4:10

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.

And then she broke it down like this:

*Oh that you would bless me indeed:

Jabez chose to believe something about God. He believed that God's nature was so blessed and that God not only could, but also wanted to reach down and bless him.

*Oh that you would enlarge my territory (coast):

To multiply, that which God had already given, more responsibility, and greater challenges we're asking for more of what we have been given. We are asking God to remove the limits on what we can do and who we can become.

*Oh that your hand would be with me!:

God steps in when we feel overwhelmed, fear and inadequate, what have I been thinking?

God wants to move you beond where you are. Why? So you will learn to cry out for His help, His touch on your life. Then He can do though you what you can't do alone.

A loving God has His hand on you, so that His power and presence are there, in your moment of need.

God wants so desperately to be with us, that He chooses to place His own Spirit with us. He wants to spend Eternity with us; He also wants to spend today with us. WE HAVE THE CHOICE to ignore Him or to let Him be active in our everyday lives.

*Oh that you would keep me from evil:

*Here is something we miss:

When God blesses us and expands our territory, we aren't less tempted to sin.(though it might feel that way) we are more likely to be tempted. However, those who are content to do a few things for God don't bother Satan, and those who remain in their comfort zone pose little or no threat to Satan, but when you begin to take territory for God, guess whose territory we are invading?

*That I may not cause pain: (That it may not grieve me)

All of us know from experience that the consequence of sin always includes pain. When I sin I hurt God, others, and myself

That's because sin:

1. Disrupts my relationship with God

2. Disillusions the faith of others

3. Damages the work of God.

So please what and know what you pray for and how you pray.

Don't pray just to be praying; pray that God will move in your life.

May God bless your territory!

Ask for and expect God's blessing on you.

Plead for more territory and respond to the opportunities when they come.

Depend upon God's hand to guide and direct and to accomplish what we can not do alone.

Ask God to keep evil away so that you will not bring grief to God, others, and yourself.

Then Beverly had a list and ask us to pick just three to work on for the glory of God:

Tempted to complain when things don't go my way.

Tempted to compare myself to others.

Tempted to comprosmise what I know is right.

Tempted not to tell the whole truth.

Tempted to hold a grudge and refuse to forgive.

Tempted to be critical of others.

Tempted to be jealous of others.

Tempted to gossip.

Tempted to be discontent with what I have.

Tempted to waste time, such as spending too much time watching tv.

Tempted to fantasize about being married to another man.

Tempted to indulge in books or media with questionable content.

Tempted to get angry and lose control.

Tempted to yell or lash out at my kids.