Rating: 
Summary: Prayer, in any form, works!
Review: First of all, I want to say that this is a great little book that can give you insight into "one" way of praying for God's will to be done in your life. It is certainly not the only answer, but I can attest that, taken seriously in context, the prayer does work. Since starting the prayer, I have taken a whole new direction in my committment to the Lord, and He has blessed me indeed.It seems that this tiny book has stirred up a mighty big controversy. I have personally read this book, unlike, I'm guessing, some others who have put their comments in, and do believe that the prayer works. I don't chant it as a mantra, as many "cyber-theologans" accuse Mr. Wilkinson of creating, but I use it, as I do the Lord's Prayer, as a model in my conversations (yes, I did say conversations) with God. I would like to assume, but may be wrong in doing so, that the majority of readers are not just mindlessly uttering the words in hopes that God is going to give them that new car or big pay raise. To assume that they are is a real slap in the face to Christians everywhere (and so I turn the other cheek). I can't remember the last time I have read so much rhetoric about a simple subject. There are so many frustrated theologans and bible scholars with no place else to peddle their opinions than a review page on Amazon.com that I couldn't address them all via e-mail. For Pete's sake, it's just a book about a prayer!! One little prayer asking God to bless me and expand my territory (I personally pray "expand my MINISTRY for YOUR glory). What is so theologically unsound about that?? There is also the theology that one should not use his/her knowledge to be a stumbling block for others. However, it seems that pride and an obsessive need to show how much we know about the Bible has obscured that idea. Why are so many "Christians" trying to make religion so complicated, you need a PhD to understand it. I truely believe that God meant for this to be SIMPLE - "Trust Me, Talk to Me, Love Me." Yes, 1st Chronicles has many "better qualified" heros than poor, lowly Jabez. But then again, Moses and Saul/Paul didn't have stellar resumes either. I guess you could say that God is an equal-opportunity blesser. I don't believe that Mr. Wilkinson was trying to turn theology on it's ear. He found something that worked in his life and wanted to share it. Yes, it made him, and his ministry good money I'm sure, but so what? Is that now a sin? Let's not get so wrapped up in the theological details and hoopla. Face it, Jesus was not a theologan. He preached the word in simple language so everyone could be blessed. All of the "cyber-scholars" are making it hard for us simple Christian folk to enjoy our walk with the Lord. We can talk about rules and exegesis (what does that mean, anyway? I'm not a seminary grad - yet) later. Let us all first come to Him as little children, wanting to talk to a learn from the Teacher. ...
Rating: 
Summary: Conflicted about this book
Review: I am a Christian who enjoys Christian books on theology and Christian living. So I think I have at least a decent idea of the purposes behind someone's writings. But in this case, the book struck me as trying to communicate a certain message, but not doing it well enough to avoid having it misinterpreted as communicating something entirely different. I'm pretty sure that Wilkinson's goal for this book was to try and encourage Christians to be willing to take the often ominous and intimidating step of asking God to use them to the fullest. This step is often an intimidating one because I think many Christians intrinsically understand that being completely sold out for God the way that Wilkinson is trying to convince us to be can lead us in all kinds of directions that threaten our earthly desires for security, stability, predictability, and earthly acceptance. Those who really do go all out for God and ask God to increase their ministry in the way Wilkinson suggests find out that God really follows through on their request and put them in situations where He is using them to the fullest, but are also situations that are so extreme in one form or another that we find ourselves surrenduring to God even more. This is an exciting way to serve God, but it clearly causes many of us to get out of our own comfort zones, which can be a very intimidating thing. If I had thought that Wilkinson had clearly and unambiguously communicated this message, I would enthusiastically support this book. But unfortunately, while I think this was the message that Wilkinson wanted to communicate, I don't think he did it well enough to avoid having his presentation be easily misinterpreted. While I don't think he is communicating a prosperity gospel here, in my opinion, he too often comes too close to at least flirting with it by not clearly rebuking the prosperity theology when he discusses asking God for various earthly things in order to better accomplish a particular ministry. Again, I don't think he intended to promote a prosperity gospel here, but when someone writes a book that urges us to be comfortable asking for earthly things when our motivation is to serve God completely, that person should be sensitive to how easily that can be misinterpreted into trying to put a spiritual stamp of approval on the practice of asking for material stuff so that we can live comfortable and materialistic lives. Those two philosophies are very different, and Wilkinson should have done a better job of clearly dilineating between the two. Because he didn't, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend the book. There's some good stuff in here, particularly in the area of temptation. But the mark of any good book is one that is written in such a way that it clearly communicates its message so that most readers clearly understand what the philosophy is, and what it isn't. Wilkinson failed to do that in my humble view, and the result is a book that has lots of potential, but could be a point of great confusion for a lot of folks who might pick it up.
Rating: 
Summary: Prayer as incantation
Review: I am less disturbed by the actual content of this book as I am with the hoopla that has made it a bestseller in evangelical Christendom. I came to the book a skeptic and finished it mildly impressed with Wilkinson's overall message. In short, Wilkinson suggests that the prayer of Jabez offers guidance to men and women seeking to deepen their relationship with God through prayer. This alone may be true. The "hoopla," however, centers on the idea that the "Prayer of Jabez" is somehow a revolutionary prayer that will in itself completely transform life. Wilkinson feeds the notion that the power is in the prayer by placing so much emphasis on the actual wording of the prayer. In so doing, it often seems like the Prayer of Jabez has been turned into a magical incantation that one can use to manipulate God. The description on the back of the book well embodies this fallacy: "Are you ready to reach for the extraordinary? To ask God for the abundant blessings He longs to give you? Join Bruce Wilkinson to discover how the remarkable prayer of a little-known hero can release God's favor, power, and protection. You'll see how one daily prayer can help you leave the past behind--and break through to the life you were meant to live." This is a good example of incantation, the notion that mere words have the power to release potent forces. This is why the book may do as much harm as it does good for Christians seeking to deepen their life of prayer.
Rating: 
Summary: Originally a good book...
Review: Once upon a time, I saw an interview on the television. The interview was with an author I had never heard of, and yes, I have a pretty good library of Christian books. The book the author was talking about was the Prayer of Jabez. Interesting concept, or so I thought. Something worth forking up the ol' dollar bills for. So low and behold I ordered the book. I got it in. I read it. A short book, but worth the reading especially when you look between the lines at the messages that speak to the heart of desires in life. Then came the wave of others who were wanting the book. As a bookstore employee, man, did I see people after people clammoring for the book. Talked with some of them. Oh they have read the bible here and there, but I got the feeling that they considered the Bible more of a "classics" than a voice of the sacred romance to the heart and soul of one's being. Basically, I got the nagging feeling people were buying the book and reading what they wanted to read: that God owes us something (besides the little incident of DYING for our sins and defeating death itself...but pardon me, let me go back to the point). As the multitudes of people were buying the book. Some how they also got the idea of taking the Bible verse and putting it on paper and framming the verse. A nice little gift for the office. Then...came the teddy bears. Yes. I'm not lying. Teddy Bears. With little symbols of prayer over the heart region of the bear. And let us not forget t-shirts. There's something to show off. I've got a prayer of Jabez t-shirt. Isn't there a song...and pardon me for not knowing all the lyrics...that goes something like "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a...." (You fill in the rest). Well, the author must be pretty happy. His prayers are being answered apparently. SOMEONE must be getting money from all the adversements and nicknacks being sold in the stores. Thus a book I would have once given five stars...now only gets one...
Rating:
Summary: Good premise, Being Judged by its Results.
Review: I had heard alot about this book from those who had read the book and begun praying the prayer and began receiving what appeared to be blessings as a result of the prayer. So, I read some of the reviews to get some reader comments and I chose to focus primarily on those with negative comments, since the word on the street so to speak was overwhelmingly positve. Many of the cautionary comments, I initially agreed with, for example, the idea of promoting vain repetitions, needing to emphasize the Lord's prayer, teaching health and wealth, prosperity, etc. With this background, I read the book. And I didn't find, that my initial agreement with the negative comments was warranted. Even Jesus answer to the disciples rearding the Lord's Prayer could be interpreted as promoting mantra in prayer. And he did say, if you seek you will find, if you ask he will answer? Are we not to seek his blessing? I also think that while these verses are obscure in the overall text of the Bible, they should be given all the credibility of any verse in the Bible, isn't there a verse that mentions, that "all" of God's word was given to glorify...? I also did not find that, as I read the book, I thought as much about what I might obtain from praying the prayer, as How I might improve my ability to walk in God's will by improving my focus through prayer, recognizing that God would bless me as a result (emphasis on being blessed, not recieving blessings). I am as analytical and skeptical as the next person, but I also recognize that faith and God's purpose for our lives is not something that can be analyzed or broken down into its collective parts and understood, otherwise it wouldn't be faith. It seems that many lives have been dramatically altered by those who have read this book and are attempting to live the Prayer of Jabez. I would not presume,through skepticism, atomistic perspective, or as a result of my intelligence, to suggest that God can not work through a book who's purpose it seems to be to get people to experience God as God intended, through faith, communication, worship, day to day life. Read the book, learn the principles behind the prayer, live it and judge it based on its results.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Prayer Hidden Between Unpronounable Names
Review: Nestled within the Book of 1 Chronicles, Chapter Four is one man's prayer that will change your own prayer life forever. Bruce Wilkinson uncovers "The Prayer of Jabez." He outlines the principles of Jabez's prayer and shows how five small request can transform your very own expectations and leave you in absolute awe of God's will and pleasure for your own life. This is a book you'll read quickly and definitely more than once. It's the prayer you never noticed, and now you'll never forget. Sure to be a prayer you call your very own. "The Prayer of Jabez" is a life changing read.
Rating:
Summary: Small Book with a Large Message
Review: This is a life changing book. A small book with a large message that makes you wonder, why did I not think of this? Most importantly the Prayer works. I have carried this book with me everyday to remind me how special I am.
Rating:
Summary: The perfect book for our sad times
Review: We have a president (note the small p) who spent his entire life having wealth and success handed to him on a silver platter. Now we have a theology that teaches we should sit and wait for God to hand us a new SUV and a bigger McMansion and a greener lawn. I give up on this country.
Rating:
Summary: "A Little Book, a Big Prayer, Big God"
Review: This LITTLE book is dynamite, it's powerful, it's about a prayer from a relatively unknown character in the Bible named Jabez, who didn't believe in an impersonal, uncaring, LITTLE GOD, but a BIG GOD with BIG plans for his life. Look at his prayer and let it become your own, life-changing reality.
Rating:
Summary: Prayer of Jabez
Review: When taken to heart revoltionizes your prayer life. Not a name it and claim it book but one that shows you a path to the will of God.
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