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Summary: That You Would Bless Me Indeed!
Review: I received this little book as a gift from a friend. She said "I hope this book will bless you as much as it blessed me." I shall say that I think this book is definitely a blessing. I have read over some of the other reviews on this book. I really don't think this prayer should replace THE LORD'S PRAYER. I believe it should enhance the prayer life you already have. For those who don't have a prayer life at all and this is the start of their prayer life, it should be an enriching experience. Once you have read this, you will seek more. I believe this book just shows you how an ordinary person can have an extraordinary life in Christ. Jabez prayed that simple prayer and the Lord heard and answered his prayer. I am a witness at seeing prayers answered. I think this book was so popular as a cross over because it needs to touch everyone. Not all people know where to start. It's popularity reminds me of "WOMAN THOU ART LOOSED". It touched the lives of women of every nationality. The JABEZ PRAYER is doing the same thing. All I can say is read it, give one to a friend or a loved one. TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE!
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Summary: I am blessed!!!!!!
Review: This is a must read for all those who are new in Christ or for those that have received their calling from God and are having second thoughts. Although this book is a quick read it definitely has a lingering affect.
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Summary: Jabez or Jesus?
Review: When Jesus prayed to God, he said, "Not my will but yours be done." But Bruce Wilkinson turns the good prayer of Jabez into a selfish prayer ("Not your will but mine be done") that is just the opposite of the example Jesus left us. This book proposes to give us a simple prayer from an obscure part of the Bible that we can repeat every day. It is suggested that we will experience great blessing from God in response to that prayer. (As if God could be manipulated by our prayers!) The prayer of Jabez is short, so maybe that is why the book is so popular: "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." Most people don't have any more time for God than what can be uttered in two quick pleas as they brush their teeth. Or, maybe it has become such a top seller because Wilkinson makes such a big deal about the fact that God will grant our prayers just like he granted the request of Jabez. I guess the prayer of Jesus doesn't make such a good pattern for daily prayer because God didn't grant his request (please note my sarcasm, since a careful understanding of the Bible shows that God really did answer Jesus' prayer and I really do think Jesus' prayer is a much better model to follow). For a man who has tried to teach the church the unity and storyline of the Bible (Wilkinson is founder of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries and co-author of Talk Thru the Bible: A Survey of a Setting and Content of Scripture) I am surprised to see how Wilkinson takes this prayer so out of the context of the Old Testament, and uses it to tell the masses just what they want to hear. My only hope is that he will now use all his popularity and money to tell the secular world what I trust he still really believes is most important. Wilkinson fails to show that Jabez was an Israelite who, when he prayed, asked God for something he knew God had already promised in his covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 - "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Jabez knew that God blesses people in order that they be a blessing to others. Ultimately, God blessed all peoples through Abraham's descendant, Jesus. It's too bad that Wilkinson's book isn't about how we can bless others with the blessings we have received from Jesus. The real prayer of Jabez should also be understood in light of Exodus 34:23-24 - "Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel. I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your territory, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times each year to appear before the LORD your God." When Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory, he was basically asking God to give him the freedom to leave his land in order to worship God without having to worry about those who might covet and steal his land, crops, and possessions. I don't think most of us in America have to worry about our land when we go to church on Sunday. It's too bad Wilkinson's book isn't about asking God to give us the grace to worship him freely and without the hindrance of all our worries. Rather than teaching us to trust God amidst our worries, Wilkinson's book teaches people to do what we already do too easily - to trust in ourselves and in the "blessings" that we think we need. If you want a prayer to live by, why not pray the prayer that Jesus instructed his followers to pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." We would learn and grow and experience so much more of God's blessings if we prayed this every day. For dealing with pain, why not pray the prayer that Jesus prayed before he went to the cross: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. But not my will but yours be done." God knows so much better than we do what blessings we really need. When we pray to be free from financial hardship or physical suffering, perhaps God wants to use those things to lead us to a much more lasting blessing. It's true that God promises to grant believers in Jesus whatever they ask in Jesus' name. But note the requirement that we pray according to God's will. Thank God that he doesn't grant our every request! If you want a book on prayer, particularly the Lord's prayer, I would rather recommend C. S. Lewis's Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer If you want a book on dealing with pain, I recommend Tim Hansel's You Gotta Keep Dancin', or C. S. Lewis's The Problem of Pain, or C. S. Lewis's A Grief Observed If you want a book on God's desire to bless us, you have got to read John Piper's Desiring God
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Summary: The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
Review: I found some of the negative reviews a little puzzling. At first I was concerned about the "name it and claim it" type of religion, but I did not perceive this book as such after reading it. Instead it breathed life into my soul to SEEK GOD FOR THE THINGS OF GOD, I found that the material things were of lower priority on my request list to God after reading this book. I can see where some would perceive this as a "give me more" type of reading, but the surprising thing about it is that I believe that God will give more to that person, but only what he needs to do God's work, not necessarily what he wants, especially if the person is not in God's will, or seeking God for selfish desires. GREAT BOOK if you are seeking more of God to do His will and His works. It is a positive prayer to God in any event!
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Summary: Fast food for our McReligion Culture
Review: I thought the best line for this book came near the very end. "It's only what you belive will happen and THEREFORE DO next that will bring about life change." Emphasis on "therefore do" was mine. Another way of putting this is "faith without works is dead." I believe the writer planned on selling this book as a panacea for people who just want to sit on their butts and recite a prayer and wait for the miracles to start pooring in. I hardly believe there is anythig special about this particular prayer. I think the best solution for anyone is to pray for the strength to do what is right and to let your conscience be your guide. If anyone is hoping to sit on their Lazyboy while reciting a few words to change their life, they will be sorely disapointed. But gee, doesn't it sell?
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Summary: Not a "name it and claim it"
Review: This book is not all about asking our God for all the selfish and materialistic things we want...it is ALL ABOUT ASKING GOD FOR HIS WILL AND WHAT HE WANTS IN OUR LIVES. And about asking God for His will to be our "want". As Christians, of course we want earthly things...that is the "human" in us. However, in this very basic prayer, Jabez asks God for more opportunities to work for His glory. This is the ultimate joy and happiness and fulfillment in the life of a true believer/Christian.Sure, I admit, that the prayer can sound like a selfish "gimme, God" list...but it is NOT. It is a prayer of a humble man for his God (and mine) to give him more opportunities to give Him the glory, honor, love and respect due Him for all He has done for us. This little book and it's contents are making a remarkable difference in me and in my prayer life. thank you Mr. Wilkinnson for opening my eyes..both the physical ones AND the spiritual ones.
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Summary: It's what you make of it.
Review: I enjoyed Jabez much. I thought that it challenged disciples to examine their prayer life. It offered insight and exposed a common lack of expectation of God's blessings. I am disappointed with what I think Wilkinson is purposing: Praying a four line prayer. He never explains that prayer is an open of our heart to God and that this prayer can be used as an outline. There are a few implications that the prayer is just an outline, but he makes just as many implications to merely pray the four lines. I fear for the people that read this book and then ritualistically recite the four lines every morning. On the other hand, if someone that realises that the prayers in the bible are outlines, if that person reads this book, their prayer life, and walk with God in general, will be lifted to a new level. For more mature disciples who will easily see through the ritualism, this is a great book. For the inexperienced Christian, I would recommend buying a new Bible, NIV, perhaps.
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Summary: Personal challenge to a paradigm shift
Review: The book opens up a refreshing dimension to our spiritual life. It is not encouraging us to be selfish or self-centred but it challenges us to put God in the driving seat of our lives and see what He has in store for us - as He has indicated in the book of Malachi. There is some remarkable similarity between the prayer of Jabez and the prayer that Jesus taught as recorded in the book of Matthew. I invite you to read the book with an open mind and receptive spirit - and you will find enrichment in your spiritual life and more.
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Summary: Poor Bible Interpretation
Review: This book is an attempt to apply the prayer of Jabez recorded in First Chronicles to modern life. Since Jabez prayed for blessing, the author argues that we also should ask for blessing. Although Wilkinson does briefly venture into the "health and wealth gospel" (specifically in saying "If Jabez lived in modern times, he might have prayed 'Lord, increase my investment portfolios'"), the main portion of the book enjoins the reader to ask for spiritual blessing. There are problems with this sort of approach. To illustrate this, try to think what would happen if it were applied to the other historical books of the bible. How about David's prayer in First Chronicles 28? Here, God informs that David that because he has fought wars and shed blood, he should not participate in the building of the temple, but instead leave the task to his son Solomon. Applying the principle expounded here, you could conclude that no veteran of a war should participate in the founding of a church. What about David's prayer that God would take the children of his enemies and dash themp upon the rocks? Can this be applied? What about the many instances in Old Testament history where lots were cast to pinpoint which alternative to follow? Should we as modern day Christians cast lots? First Chronicles is a historical book. It was written primarily for the purposes of history. It was NOT written for the purposes of instruction. It should be read according to the intention of the writer. Instances in Old Testament historical books should be perceived for what they are: records of history. But what about application? Here is a good principle: a historical incident may be legitemately applied IF it is an illustration of a general principle or teaching expounded upon in the sections of the bible that are concerned with didactic instruction(like the epistles, portions of the gospels, etc). So, the real question here is this: Is the prayer of Jabez an illustration of a general biblical principle? The answer is NO. No biblical character refers to it. No place in the bible tells you "pray that God would give you stuff..." In fact, the biblical teaching is quite the opposite. Consider the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6(a portion of the bible concerned with teaching, since Jesus is speaking to the multitude). What are some principles illustrated in that prayer? Here is one: It is very God-centered. It begins and ends with God. Wilkinson, on the other hand, is teaching people to pray in a self-centered way. He is looking up an obscure Old Testament reference, improperly handling the historical context, in order to contradict the plain teaching of Christ on how we ought to pray.
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Summary: A life changing prayer.
Review: I am astonished at the nay Sayers who wrote such disparaging reviews of this remarkable little book. I would venture to say, that if I gave each one of them a million dollars, they would complain about something, whether it be about the taxes, or why didn't I give an equal amount to the poor or something. There is nothing in this book that is not consistent with the rest of the Bible. Each line of the prayer acknowledges God's awesome power and the author recognizes this. However, you must pray the prayer in the right context. If you just say a rote prayer with no heartfelt meaning behind it (as the Pharisees did), you are going to be greatly disappointed at the results. However, if you pray it with all your heart, think about each line and put a genuine sentiment behind what you are saying (as the repenter did), you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. I have done just that for a little over a month now and I can tell you this prayer works. God is blessing me more and more each day. Many people complained that Jesus taught us how to pray. The question I have for them is, are you only praying once per day? I don't. I will pray the prayer of Jabez and many other prayers all day long. The prayer of Jabez is just one prayer in my arsenal. If you read this book and apply the principles with all your heart, you will be amazed at what our God can do.
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