THE PRAYER OF JABEZ
1 Chronicles 4:10
The prayer of Jabez can be summed up as: bless me, use me, help me, keep me. It may seem like a prayer for ourselves, but it is much more than that.
Bless me: This is not a selfish prayer! We ask for God to bless us according to his desires, not our own - and so that we may bless others. ‘I will bless you... and you will be a blessing' (Genesis 12:2)
Use me: 'Enlarge my territory' means 'increase my influence for good in the world'. It is not a prayer for personal gain, but for opportunities to serve.
Help me: To pray 'let your hand be with me' is to acknowledge our total dependence on God. This was the secret of the early church: ‘The Lord's hand was with them' (Acts 11:21).
Keep me: When God enlarges our territory Satan fights back to harm us in spirit, character and devotion to the Lord. This is a prayer for protection.
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THE LORD'S PRAYER
Matthew 6:5-14
The Lord's prayer provides a model for our praying:
Our Father in Heaven: A reminder that we are part of God's praying family and that he is our 'Abba' Father. This should lead us to praise, adoration and thanksgiving.
Hallowed be your name:Our first concern is for God's name to be honoured in all areas of our lives.
Your kingdom come:A prayer for God's rule and reign to transform the communities and institutions of our society.
Your will be done:A prayer to know God's will and to see it done in our lives.
Give us this day our daily bread:Our most basic needs can be included in our prayers.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors:We need to ask for God's forgiveness, and ask for a heart of fogiveness toweards others.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one: A prayer for the power and protection of God.
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