Rating: 
Summary: Centered on Self rather than cross
Review: I can see why this is a bestseller. Short in words and promising success if only the reader does this and that. Turns biblical prayer on its ear. Purely this is dangerous teaching for only the fact that it seeks to turn our attention away from Christ and upon our own relentless seeking what we want. Scripture is replete with examples against such "name it and claim it" theology. Further, the English translation here of 1 Chronicles 4:9 "and Jabez was more honorable" is faulty and misleading. The preferable Hebrew trnalslation here would be "more honored." See a reliable source such as Keil-Delitzsch, Volume 8, pg. 88. This coupled with the interpretative guideline of scripture interprets scripture will not permit this incorrect application as the book suggests. What about taking up our crosses and following Jesus? What about he who exalts himself I will humble and he who humbles himself I will exalt? Prayer disconnected from our relationship to Christ crucified is what is critical, and is avoided in this book. Further to its false teaching, the author exhibits Pelgiansism (look it up to find out what's involved) on pg. 85 -- speaking of what to do about sin, he writes "I encourage you to rush back into God's presence and make things right, whatever it takes." What about giving it to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? This is certainly commendable that Christ's people pray and strengthen their walk of faith, but putting people under the law in his human-centered way and not the way of Christ's cross is unbiblical and dangerous to faith, no matter how high it is on the best-seller's list. For biblical teaching on prayer and life of faith, see either Harold Senkbeil's excellent book "Dying to Live: The Power of Forgiveness," Chapter 8 and Gene Veith's "Spirituality of the Cross."
Rating: 
Summary: Scary misrepresetnation of Christianity
Review: I could not finish this book; I stopped with utter disgust. The very idea that we can influence the will of God is anathema to everything taught in the bible. I suppose that this type of book is very, very comforting to people trying to square Christ's teachings of poverty and humility with their desire for a larger SUV and a more spacious house. It is dangerous to emphasize one tiny verse in the bible over the entire message Christ brought in the New Testament. Our society must eventually confront that our greediness, no matter how we name it, is diametrically opposed to Christ's teaching. Any Christian's emphasis needs to be on others before themselves. It is extremely dangerous to tell people that if they honor God they will be rewarded. Honoring and loving God is the end of Christianity, it is not a means to improving our life on Earth. G.K. Chesterton once said that the strongest argument against Christianity is Christians. If I were a non-Christian observing the success of this book, I would agree with GKC as I see thropngs of people flocking to a book that opposes the words and example of the one person Christians base their entire relgigion on. Very, very, very disturbing trend that stresses where today's American Christian places importance: self before others.
Rating: 
Summary: A very important work
Review: Contrary to some of the reviews I've read here, The Prayer of Jabez has nothing to do with a "name it and claim it" school of theology. It has nothing to do with seeking expansion of our territory for our sake. What it does speak to is something which all christians ought to long for, and that is to be used fully by God for His purposes. I'm troubled by many of the reviews I've read here, which seem to be discussing a book other than the one I've read several times! If you think this is a book with a formula to manipulate God somehow, you'll be disappointed. If you'd like a guide to lead you towards increasing your faith and reliance on the God who does what He wants, when He wants to do it, and does it His way, this is a book for you. I couldn't recommend this book more highly. One word of caution, though... it is getting trendy; avoid the leather-bound, gold embossed version!
Rating:
Summary: Down with Jabez!
Review: After perusing a handful of thoroughly obnoxious and nauseating reviews written by a babbling horde of credulous ninnies, I can't help but add my own two cents. Most of the dim bulbs that have written reviews of "The Prayer of Jabez" think (although using the word "think" is a bit of a stretch, as I fear most of these nimrods have never had a clear, coherent thought in their entire lifetime) that just because they have "accepted Christ" and have been "born again," that they are somehow special and different and changed and set apart from the rest of humanity. Think again: once a selfish pig, always a selfish pig. "The Prayer of Jabez" is a book for a very specific breed of selfish pig: the kind that appears (and believes himself to be) blessed and godly, but way down at the bottom of his heart, he is nothing more than a repulsive little pig who cares about nothing more than himself, his possessions, and his own aggrandizement. You know what I'm talking about; the kind of pig that is so blinded by religious rhetoric that he can't even see himself for what he really is. The kind of pig who prays, "Expand my territory! Grant me miracles! Bless me! GIVE ME GLORY!" and actually thinks that is a GOOD THING to pray for! It's enough to make your skin crawl. Truly disgusting. Almost as dangerous as it is ugly... "The Prayer of Jabez": avoid it like the Plague!
Rating:
Summary: The real prayer
Review: Nice idea, nice prayer; unfortunately, that's not how it reads in Hebrew. It would behoove CHristian authors to use a knowledgable translation -- such as the Stone TaNaCh. We Jews have been reading it for 3000 years.
Rating:
Summary: Been Blessed
Review: My sister bought the Prayer of Jabez for me and I was truly blessed by reading it. The way God operates is so awesome that we will never be able to figure Him out. But to read the Prayer of Jabez and to take in the true meaning of the prayer, you will never be the same. By reading it you should not feel the same way about your everyday walk with God as you do now. Read it, absorb it, pray on it. I believe you too will be blessed.
Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: This little book and the dicipline has the power to change lives and enrich our world. Wilkinson powerfully exposes and simply tells of God's love for those who seek Him. As many times as I have read I Chronicles, I never saw this prayer. Thank you Bruce Wilkinson for bringing it to light.
Rating:
Summary: Have you checked the cross-reference to 1 Chronicle 4:10
Review: Deut 12:20 gives some real insight to the prayer of Jabez. It appears that this son of Judah (1 Chron 4:1) was concerned with the promise of the God of Israel to widen out territory, i.e., increase in worshipers of true God. Deut 12:1,2 shows that the cleansing of the land from pagan worship would result in widening it out, all with God's blessing. Jabez's motive was pure in that he was concerned, apparently, with making more true worshipers. So, perhaps the lesson that is really derived from this Hebrew scripture account is for Christians to pray to be successful in making more disciples of Christ, as Jabez wanted to make disciples for God, in a peaceful way. Sounds like an honorable mission indeed.
Rating:
Summary: It will change your life!
Review: Man o' man is this a powerful book. The prayer is simple, but very bold! Hold on once you start praying it because God release his loving hands and shower you with incredible blessings. The new leather edition looks awesome, and the gold foil edges are very cool. Get this for a friend, your spouse, your dad, or a lost soul. God loves us all, and this book will make his love even clearer. God bless you indeed! Kevin
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous bang for your buck
Review: This short, inexpensive little book's chief purpose is to draw your attention to an obscure but powerful couple of verses in the Bible, 1 Chronicles 4:9 and 10. If you read those verses and pray the prayer contained in 4:10, you will begin to embark on an exciting new adventure in your life's service to God. To help understand why the changes are taking place, you should read Bruce Wilkinson's book. Wilkinson didn't invent the prayer and he didn't pluck something obscure out of the Bible and then twist its meaning to suit his own purposes. The fact is, he came across this prayer through a seminary chaplain early in his life, and he has been meditating and reflecting on its power for decades as he has experienced the changes in his life that this prayer can make. In this book, Wilkinson thoughtfully and reverently offers his own insights into the kind of loving, joyful relationship with God that is expressed in this prayer. God himself already understands its dynamics, of course, and by praying this prayer you will begin to grow in your spiritual life and in your contribution to the lives of others. But if you want to understand yourself, in a more conscious and structured way, why this prayer begins to align your life and its goals more closely with God's loving promises, than you should read this book. Wilkinson has thrown a door open to a new, loving, creative and productive phase in your life, developed individually with your God on the basis of the relationship that this prayer begins to establish between the two of you. At the very least, read 1 Chronicles 4: 9 and 10! I was very glad that afterwards, I read this book, too.
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