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Summary: Just Imagine That !
Review: It is particularly interesting that some of us see the potential and the good in the Prayer of Jabez. It was while reading the new testament that I discovered the name Jabez, and I looked it up and found the reference to it in 1 Chronicles.The prayer supports, and builds faith, it helps in lifting up and giving hope. Our relationship with the true God can be as simple and as direct as the intent being elaborated in the prayer of Jabez. We should pray in a simple way in asking God to have his hand in our lives, and to satisfy our needs. Who else, should we go to.
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Summary: Interesting But Too "Timely" for Belief
Review: I found Dr. Wilkinson's work about The Prayer of Jabez quite facscinating from a biblical standpoint, but as for "good reading" I found there were just too many "coincidences" in Dr. Wilkinson's life and travels that seemed "too good to be true", so to speak. Too many "fateful encounters" that made it seem more like fiction than reality. I also found it a bit unbelievable that the author "claims" to have repeated The Prayer daily for 30 years yet he is JUST NOW writing about it. Why wait so long if he believed so strongly in The Prayer for so many years?? It seems that Dr. Wlikinson "hit the jackpot" at a time when people are searching for "something" or "anything" that can give them hope in today's ever maddening society. Not to mention the financial crunch Americans now face due to poor economic times. Perhaps I'll write my own book on the subject and try to ride the coat tails of Dr. Wilkinson. Why not? Look how Michael Bolton made his fame and fortune singing other people's songs!!
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Summary: Enlightenment into the Joy of Living
Review: My pastor mentioned this book one Sunday morning so I bought one book. After reading it I knew my Charistian children would find the joy so bought two more. As I began to pray the "Jabez" each morning and seek His wisdom for this expanded territory in my life, I invested in 10 more books and have prayerfully sent them to internet friends I have met throughout the world. Everyone I know is on their 2nd reading and each of us is gleaning insight based upon personal need. That is one of the great things about this little book. When you prayerfully open your heart and seek the wisdom meant just for you, you will have something entirely new revealed to you....just you, from our Father. One internet Christian friend who has always loved the Lord called me and asked, "What is this feeling I have? I have never felt it before". I answered him to the best of my ability with just one word, "joy".
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Summary: Let's know Him before we attempt to use Him.
Review: I, for one, am very tired of seeing books like this making the best seller list. Does anybody care that the traditional and universally accepted idea that Jesus came to satisfy the justice of God by dying on a cross is illogical and not biblically supportable? Does anybody care to know the real reason the sacrifice of Jesus has the power to reconcile US to God, and how that profoundly changes us? Or do they only care about what God can do for them? I recommend How Jesus Reconciled Mankind to God by Pamela Scudder. ...
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Summary: NOT A Mantra
Review: When I first heard about this book, my immediate reaction was...Oh it sounds like a mantra of some sort, a prayer that people will uselessly chant, hoping to work magic out of nothing. But I was urged to read it. I got so engrossed in it that I could not put it down, and finished it in one sitting! I must confess it is one of the best-written books I have ever read! The main thing I got from reading this book is that IT IS NOT INTENDED AS A MANTRA. Merely repeating the words of the Jabez prayer would amount to useless mumblings, without any meaning. It is not intended to work like a magic formula. In that aspect, neither is the Lord's prayer. The other thing is..IT IS NOT EXCLUSIVE....it is certainly not the ONLY thing we should practise....It a part of the whole faith-walk. Prayer certainly should continue to be our own personal cry to God, and worship and praise should certainly continue to be a part of the mix. Nowhere does the author insist that the prayer of Jabez is the ONLY thing we need to do to be blessed. It is merely a rudder, a compass.... to give us direction. What it does do is: (a) Helps one FOCUS....on expecting more (NOT material blessings) from God, (b) Reinforces our RIGHT to ask for more (it's so true....we do not have because we do not ask....most of us are under this false, saintly impression that it is immodest and arrogant to ASK blessings for ourselves!! Blessings are so much more than just material things...they could mean patience, gifts of the spirit, kindness, humility, etc) (c) Gives us a step-by-step direction on how to pray....leading to the abundant life...and fullness in God.......if you feel you do not NEED anymore of Him or His blessings.....u are not on the right track.....we all need to keep growing, keep expanding...we cannot be saturated. (d) Gives us the boldness we lack ....takes us out of our COMFORT ZONE!!! We all grew up praying the Lord's prayer..it is so familiar...so comforting...yet today, most people pray it without even knowing its meaning. The prayer of Jabez may not have been mentioned by Jesus but its still a part of the Bible.....it was put there to bless us, not merely as a historical fact. I am grateful to Mr. Wilkinson for bringing it to light. It just goes to show how much there is in the Bible that we do not know about...how much more we need to explore...to prevent ourselves from becoming complacent. So keep these things in mind when you pray the Jabez prayer....and remember its not a magic formula.....its your compass. God Bless Ann
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Summary: Turning a short prayer into a short book
Review: This book offers some wonderful points, but they need to be understood in context. I don't think the author of this book intended to imply a prosperity gospel. Rather, the point of this book seems to be that if you are willing to step out in faith and accomplish great things for God, acknowledging your desire through this prayer, that He will bless you for it. It's easy to construe from the examples (not the least of which is Jabez himself) that this is all about material blessing. But this book has inspired me and others in my church to pray for our church in faith that God will "enlarge our territory", that is, bring more people in and increase our influence in the community, and we are starting to see our prayers answered. To be honest, you would probably do well to just skip the book and read your Bible. After the first chapter, I was thinking, "OK, I get it already." The prayer of Jabez is very short and easy to memorize; just start praying it with a humble heart and an open mind and if nothing else, it will broaden your perspective. Still, as a pretty and useful little harcover, it makes a nice small gift for friends and relatives.
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Summary: A great encouragement to Pray
Review: I found this book to stimulate thought regarding God's intentions toward us. It is that God's intentions are for the best as Jesus said "that your joy may be made full". It made me think about those blessings that God wants to bless me with. The book encouraged me to trust God with the specific blessing...that I don't pray "Bless me God and this is how I want you to do it" It is in a trustful manner of "Please Bless me God with the Blessing that you have for me" Bruce admits that such a prayer seems shallow, but later shows how it has depth in bringing richness and enthusiasm into our lives to know that God wants to bless us. One of the stories in the book tell of how God blessed a college student in something we would normally regard as insignificant. Her response was "this if the first time that I FEEL loved by God". She always knew it, but her joy became full by the answers that she received and by knowing that God loves in all things. Modern Christianity is full of prayers that don't expect anything and I think that this offends our God. The scriptures are full of encouragement to pray and to live our lives so that God can bring greater blessing into them. Such as the verse "having a form of godliness but denying the power therof" If someone wants to be encouraged with the truth that God has an exciting plan for their life then this book is a must. It will cause you to sing the Doxology with greater conviction.
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Summary: For those who know the Holy Spirit and God's works
Review: After reading some of the negative reviews I was amased by them. Then it hit me, they are shallow in the Holy Spirit. If you have experienced the Holy Spirit and know how God truly works through your life then this is a very good read. Of course, one must have faith and understand how God works to experience the results of this book. The other side is even fighting it right here!! I have just completed reading it and have said the prayer for several days now and the Holy Spirit has opened up a few doors for me already. So if you walk with Christ and believe, then give it a try. Don't be fooled by the other side, but see that it is trying to fight it right here and that is enough to let a true believer know there must be something to it!!
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Summary: A TRUE REVIEW!
Review: ...First of all, those who are reading this prayer in hopes that God will bless them with gains are taking this prayer entirely out of context. In one portion does it say bless me indeed...this does NOT necessarily mean blessings in monetary values or "things" that we can obtain just as easily by working for them (though that may come along)...but it implies something much deeper than I think some of these folks are willing to venture, it implies all types of blessings - and those who know about other blessings that exist will benefit from this. There are many types of blessings including spiritual which some may not grasp, but God can "enlarge our territory" by presenting us with the opportunity to spread His message and His salvation to others, and He blesses us by giving us the ability and the words to do so. Blessings are not always physical, and they are the items that I am blessed most by God - to know that He has given me abilities to do things that with Him I could not otherwise do. And if this book teaches me how to ask God for such things, then I see this book as a learning tool. Praying for God's hand to be with me and to keep me from evil so that I may not cause pain is also not a bad thing to dwell on - if anyone sees that Jesus would not want us to do this, they are not seeing the big picture...it is not by our actions that we get to Heaven or "be a better Christian" - it is our actions that cause others to want to know what it is that God & Jesus bring to our lives and to hunger for more. THAT is why praying this prayer in this mindset is something that will work better...I do not pray for "things of this earth" without asking that God's will be done in that issue...but I see NOTHING wrong with asking God to present us with the opportunity to share about Him, to bless us indeed and equip us with the tools to do so, to keep His hands on me, keeping me from evil so that I may not cause harm or pain, so that others do not see me as hypocritical, but as God sees me after the flesh - as a finished work in Him...and so that I may present the true nature of God to others so they will want to know him too! That is what I feel the Prayer of Jabez is all about. You must be prepared though to follow through when what you have prayed for is then granted...you will then be the one to present God to that person.
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Summary: A quick and inspirational read...not selfish at all!
Review: I wholeheartedly loved "The Prayer of Jabez", and the impact it has had on so many lives. I disagree with the negative reviews on this site, claiming that we are supposed to ask God to bless us with what WE want - saying that this book is a self serving tool to justify our selfish desires. That is NOT what this book is saying. In reading the Bible, it is a basic fact that God loves EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. He wants what is best for us and can do ANYTHING he wishes, but He will not continually dole out blessings to those who ignore the true purpose of them -- TO USE THEM IN ACTING OUT GOD'S WILL IN YOUR LIFE. God wants each of us to do His work and follow His path for our lives. When we make a commitment to do this, we need all the help we can get, which God is more than happy to provide. God also desires a personal, intimate relationship with each one of us. It is true that he knows our every thought and desire, but the act of ASKING Him for them pleases Him greatly. I loved this book and plan on buying many copies to distribute to family and friends. It only takes a little while to read, but the benefits are long lasting!!
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