The Prayer of Jabez Devotional

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Summary: The Prayer of Jabez
Review: A book that serves as an eye opener for those 'who seek after God'. The wisdom in this short book is based on the prayer of a humble man. (1) If you haven't found your ministry, this book will teach you to pray in a way that God can lead you to the ministry He has for you. (2) If you are in ministry, God will use it to "grow" that ministry or open new doors for your work. (3) This prayer is for the 'sinner saved by grace' to learn your place in Gods plan. (4) If you're looking at it for selfish gain, forget it... this is truly a book for those who seek to follow God. While the book is small, the message is mighty and God IS using it in the lives of many believers.

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Summary: Prayer of Jabez
Review: Although not every statement in this book is biblical, it does serve to counter some of the misconceptions about prayer that many people have. It also encourages Christians to prayer for greater growth and influence in this world for God's glory.

I also recommend "Love Your God with All Your Mind" by J.P. Moreland, and "On Good and Evil" by Vincent Cheung.

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Summary: Blessing to my Spiritual Growth
Review: Reading this book coupled with meditating on the scriptural references used in the book has blessed my life. This process has strengthened my spiritual development. My relationship with my Heavenly Father has intensified because I'm compelled to seek him even more --- on a daily basis --- throughout the entire day.

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Summary: PARADIGM SHIFT FOR CHRISTIANS
Review: The Prayer of Jabez Devotional is even more powerful than the original introductory book. Using practical and reachable illustrations the author(s) brings accross an all important truth: "God wants to bless us indeed, in spite of ourselves, notwithstanding what we may do or who we really are." It takes the simple act of asking, beleiving that He will, and allowing Him to use us to accomplish and attain the unimaginable. Sounds pretty simple, but we have failed to get it for so many years.

This devotional not only enlightens Christians to the incredible possibilities that are theirs for the asking, but it gives a new perspective on what God is capable of doing with and for us. All it takes is a shift in paradigm.

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Summary: insightful and helpful
Review: There is much to be learned from this wonderful 31 day devotional, not only in what it teaches, but in the questions it asks one to think about, and seek the answer within.
It is a helpful companion piece to Dr. Wilkinson's "The Prayer of Jabez", his first book in "The BreakThrough Series" ("Little Books/Big Change").
The format is excellent, dividing the month into weeks, each week focusing on a part of the Jabez prayer:
# 1, "O Lord, Bless Me Indeed !"; # 2, "O Lord, Enlarge My Borders !"; # 3, "O Lord, Put Your Hand upon Me !", and # 4, "O Lord, Keep Me from Evil !".
For each day there are 3 pages which include Dr. Wilkinson's insightful piece, 2-3 marvelous quotes from other sources that apply to the theme of the day, and a question for one to dig deep into one's motives and activities, and use as a springboard for the journaling one does afterwards.

The prayer of Jabez, from 1 Chronicles 4:10, is life changing, similar in so many ways to The Lord's Prayer ((Matt. 6:9-13), and the full understanding of it seems to only come when one is ready for it, and prepared to serve the Lord in a larger capacity. Many misunderstand it, thinking the blessings asked for are for one's own gratification, but this is not the case. The lesson of Jabez is in doing more for the Lord, as stated on pg. 54, "God wants you to urgently desire a larger life with more opportunities to serve Him".
A well constructed and aesthetically pleasing little book, with light peachy-beige marbleized pages and dark brown easy-to-read print, reading this every morning for a month is time put to good use. For a powerful 365 day devotional, I highly recommend Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest".

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Summary: A good devotional
Review: This summer, while healing up from surgery, I read quite a few books trying to lift my spirits and keep from feeling housebound. The Prayer of Jabez was a comfort during a hard time, but not, I felt, an explanation of suffering as a blessing.

By far the best explanation of this that I read this summer came from Tending Roses, by Lisa Wingate. If you want something that will really make you reflect on God's purpose for your life and the lives of those around you, make the time to read this book. It is not about asking God for everything you want, but, as is said by the grandmother in the book "the secret to a good life is not in getting what you want. It is in learning to want what you get. Don't waste your time crying over what you're not given. When you have tears in your eyes, you can't see all the beautiful things around you."

Sometimes, God has different plans for us than we could ever have guessed! My surgery this summer has brought me back to family, neighbors, and The Lord, when I would otherwise have spent the time working seventy hours a week. Who would have thought?