Rating: 
Summary: Wake up the lazy, the blind and the nay-sayers
Review: After reading the book, and reading many of the reviews, I must say I am stunned by the amount of people who would call this book a request for greed, materialistic wealth, and egoistic prayer. Do these people really think that if you request God to "bless you indeed, expand your territory, hold your hand, and shield you from evil" that he will grant you that if you would use it in a selfish way??? God doesn't mind you to be bold in what you ask, as long as you are willing to step out of your comfortzone, and use that what is given to you to better the world.
How many people I know that say to be religious, but who are blind, negative and lazy towards the blessings that come their way, just because it is "Too much work, I would be scared to do that, What would my friends think??, I would have to actually do some work for it??" Wilkinson is finally someone who dares to write a book that gets under the skin of those who are in that group of people. For everyone else, this book just gives you more believe that we as an individual can change the world, and have a positive impact on many many people, if we are willing to set our mind to it, believe in God, and run with what is given to us.
So, have you overlooked any blessings in the last few years, because it would take you out of your comfortzone???? (shame on you if you did). Or are you willing to change the world, with God's help???? This little book will either hit you right on the head, or it will propel you forward. It just depends on how you are willing to look at the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Ask God for the World
Review: Exploring Jabez was a wonderful adventure. I am an infant in my walk, but I know when I have favor with God. This is one of the few non-relationship Christian books I have read. 96 pages filled with how you can inherit blessings from God and not feel guilty about asking for more.Jabez might be one of the shortest and overlooked books of the bible, but don't let another day go buy with you not reading it. Once you have completed the book in the bible; pick up The Prayer of Jabez you will not be disappointed. If you are looking to be blessed commit to the prayer on a daily/regular basis, and watch his power move into your life.
Rating: 
Summary: Wilkinson's (mis)translation of "cause pain"
Review: I was a bit perplexed, when reviewing every English Bible I could find, that only the NKJV tranlated the pain as to not be caused BY Jabez. Every other translation I consulted makes Jabez the undesired recipient, not the cause, of the pain/sorrow/evil to be avoided. Then I saw that Bruce Wilkinson is listed in "Why the New King James Version?" as a scholar on the NKJV Translators' North American Overview Committee. So it is apparent that he managed to get his own interpretation of the verse inserted into the Version he now, naturally, favors.
After studying the Hebrew, I make the literal translation:
"keep unpleasantness from me, that it not be to me."
It's really streching it to get "that I not cause pain" from that construction; no wonder no other translation does it but the one made by the author of The Prayer of Jabez.
As for the supposed background story that Jabez was postumously born and thus disinherited by his brothers, I havn't been able to track down its source, but since this book itself doesn't mention it, I'll leave it for another review.
Rating: 
Summary: Eisegesis To The Max
Review: This is a textbook example of eisegesis (reading a meaning into the text rather that getting the intended meaning from the text). There is nothing wrong with looking at this prayer, in fact, since it is Scripture, we should examine the passage. Obviously, according to the text, God found Jabez honorable and his prayer at least somewhat legitimate, and in line with His will, so He granted Jabez's request. That's about all we can get from the passage using exegesis (getting the meaning of the passage by reading it as the author intended it to be read). If you are looking for some practical principles of prayer, especially if you are a new Christian, check out the book, "The Prayer of Jesus" by Hank Hannegraff. It's 96 very short pages long, and very readable. He is a meticulous student of the Word, and acurately expounds on the TRUE principles of prayer laid out by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the prayer pattern we have come to refer to as "The Lord's Prayer".
Rating:
Summary: speechless
Review: I'm not one to follow trends but with all the hype, I had to see for myself what was so great about this little book. I couldn't believe this author wrote what he did. Is he truly a Christian? He turned a simple prayer into a list of selfish requests for wealth and other material things. Yes, God will bless us, we just have to ask but it is according to His will, not ours. Not only that, but blessings may not come in the form of material things but in spiritual things. And the Bible clearly says to leave this world behind and want only the treasures of Heaven. Wealth, land, popularity, all those things will mean nothing in the end and to write a book about praying for such things, goes against everything I know as a Christian. God will provide for our needs. I'm afraid this book will mislead many people and cause them to lose faith when their prayers aren't "answered".
Rating:
Summary: Sugar Coated Theology
Review: After careful study of this book I have found that it is not only thelogically emptey but it uses a minority translation to establish its premise. That somehow this prayer which is not found in any of the Lord Jesus's discourse on Prayer is a wonderous solution for getting closer to God. If so, then why, when Jesus's disciples asked Him to teach them to pray did He not just say, "He guys, go with the Prayer of Jabez." A better book by far, is written by Mike Nappa, "The Prayer of Jesus". If you want to get closer to God get Mr. Nappa's book and read it alongside your Bible. If you want to waste your time on trivia read the Prayer of Jabez but don't use your Bible alongside it, there will be an obvious lack of truth involved in comparing it to the Scriptures. You may have to order Mr. Nappa's book but it is well worth it. If you want empety sugar coated theology get the Jabez book, if you want "Meat and Potatoes" substance stay away from it and order Prayer of Jesus by Nappa.
Rating:
Summary: DITTO
Review: To all those reviewers who gave this book 1 star. You've spoken well. To you I say ditto!
Rating:
Summary: This book stinks. I'm still not wealthy or powerful!
Review: I prayed for a million dollars, a promotion and a political seat of power. I still can't believe God didn't answer my prayers. Wilkinson's instructions must be flawed. I know God would never intentionally ignore my selfless request because I'm a Christian.
Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this LEMON!
Review: More of the "prosperity gospel" non-sense! Don't buy this lemon and don't treat God as if he were some magic jinni. The rain falls on the just and unjust alike. Live life as it happens to you, not by trying to use some secret prayer to manipulate the world around you. Our petty desires are not God's responsibility to fulfill. You want your life to be better? Work hard and formulate a plan of action. Love your neighbor. In closing, realize this: The Prayer of Jabez has spun off into books for teens and women, workbooks,etc. It has become a money making industry in and of itself, the publishers are getting rich. How very spiritual...
Rating:
Summary: absolute Junk
Review: as a student of the Bible I must say this book is based on superficial Biblical interpretation.The exegesis of the verse in question which this book is based on leaves much to be desired.Mr.wilkinson has put out some good books in the past but this ranks as the on the most heretical to come out in recent years.To say that they have discovered a secret prayer found hidden in the Bible after centuries of the greatest scholars and minds of christendom who incidently found no such thing is tantamount to heresy in my opinion.As followers of Jesus we must read Gods word and search it just as the Bereans did to check to see if it of the truth.It says in 2 timothy 4:3&4 especially verse 4 "and they shall turn away their ears from the truth,and shall be turned unto fables." Please read Your Holy Bibles seek diligently after the truth and may God Bless you and keep your paths straight.
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