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Summary: Pray of Jabez
Review: I did read it and found it ok, but any Christian that reads the Bible knows that God wants to bless His children....the Bible is full of blessings, all we need to do is recieve them, ask for them, walk in it....they are there. It is good sometime to be reminded of this, that is why we should read some in the Bible every day, to be reminded...God is good all the time, and if we are His children, He delights in pouring His blessings on us. Not just in money, but in health to. It is a blessing from God to have good health today. Kay
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Summary: A Challange to my Christian Life
Review: After reading the Book of Jabez, I passed it on to a friend. Our goal at our church is to have everyone read it (we have a congregation of over 700). I know there are critics that say it is a selfish prayer. This is far from the truth and was not the context with which I read this book. In fact, it is a prayer that takes great courage to pray because it can open many doors that may move us out of our Christian "comfort" zone in a very unselfish manner. The prayer starts out with Jabez asking to be blessed - this is not a prayer of demand, he isn't asking for worldly goods. He is leaving the blessing in God's hands. Blessings come in many forms, most blessings are not material goods. True Christians believe that God is their loving, caring heavenly Father. What loving, caring father doesn't want to bless his children?Then comes the courageous part of the prayer - enlarge my territory. This takes the Christian outside of the church and into the world, outside of his circle of "safe" Christian friends and into a world of people struggling to find meaning in life. This prayer has led our church to expand into our hurting community with a caring ministries program. We are building programs to minister to those in the struggles of divorce, addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling), dealing with grief, depression and many other programs. This is the meaning of expanding ones territory. With territory expansion comes responsibility and integrity. Thus, the prayer ends with the request that God protects Jabez from evil that he will not stumble in his walk with God. I have prayed this prayer for one month and God truly has expanded my territory. So often we keep God in a box - His power and purpose is so much more vast than we can ever imagine. I found great inspiration in this book. Those who associate it with the "name it and claim it" crowd are reading it out of context and do not have a full understanding of God's desires for his children. I highly recommend this book, but don't read it lightly, it's a powerful prayer!
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Summary: Christian view vs. NonChristian view
Review: In my opinion this is a very good book for Christians, of course if you are not a Christian you might as well read the newspaper. It really talks about using the prayer that Jabez used to enlarge your ministry not your material possessions. Real Christians are seeking for this and want to be able to do more for God but yet are unsure how to and sometimes afraid to ask God for this. The book really gives insight into the fact that what God wants from us is to reach more people with His gospel message.
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Summary: The Prayer of Jabez will bring an abundance of God's graces!
Review: I prayed the Book of Jabez and immediately started seeing God's grace and blessings in my life. I enjoyed it so much I immediately bought another. I still have two to give away and am anxious to see what God has in store for this servant. This is a perfect little book for those familiar with prayer and for those who are just starting out. Everyone can benefit from this one. Enjoy and God Bless! Anne
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Summary: Funny how the little things grab you and hold on.
Review: I was given this book as a gift from a friend whom I had counseled on numerous ocassions. It must have worked for they thought enough to return the favor by sharing this little book of knowledge with me. When I read it I thought great I will get though this one fast and have another book under my belt and then I will understand all the hype about this Jabez thing. Well it didn't work that way. As I started reading I found myself rereading and contemplating and actually coming into the practice of trying to remember this simple little four or five line prayer, depending upon how you say it. I found myself working it into my own prayers and actaully incorporating it into my prayers when I got to read in church. Funny how the little things grab you and hold on. I find that I think of this prayer alot during the day and behind the scenes try to find it's truths for my daily living and thoughts. I guess I have come to the conclusion that hey, it couldn't hurt and anything that brings me closer to walking in a path that God approves of is ok with me. I recommend a reading of this book to anyone who searches like the rest of us for truth and guidance. "It couldn't hurt." The author did a great job and deserves the credit he is. I also advise not to listen to those who always find a reason to condemn anything religious or helpful to the spirit. Religion and it's power and strength in our lives scares the stuffins out of those who rely and depend only upon their own understanding, which is counter to the wisdom of the Proverbs. Decide for yourself and let the critics go jump in the lake.
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Summary: Strange, isn't it?
Review: Isn't it strange how such a little book about a litle verse can cause such an intense controversy? There are over five hundred names in the geneology of I Chronicles, yet one man has stood out to thousands, just because of a simple prayer he prayed. Blessings. We all want them-who said it had to be hard? Matthew 7:7 says to ask and we will recieve. All Jabez was doing was taking God at his word. All Scripture is inspired by God. This prayer would not have been included if God didn't think it was necessary to us. In all actuality, this prayer is not being selfish for oneself, but for God. Why underestimate what God can do? Jabez prayed that God would bless him by expanding his outreach. He realized his helplessness if this request was answered, and depended on God's strength to accomplish all things. Several people has misinterpreted this: PLEASE read it for yourself, and see all that God has in store for you!
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Summary: Great book-must read for everyone!
Review: I have had to get several copies of this book to give away. This is the time in history where God wants to empower us to be everything we can for him, and this book gives a simple outline to do it! The book is short and easy to read. It will definantly be a benefit to you! A must read for anyone who is wanting "more" out of their life!
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Summary: More Than What Its Critics Assume
Review: The Prayer of Jabez is an interesting work not only for what it says, but for what its critics assume it says. A testimony and a literary sermon, it is neither a mandate or Holy Writ nor is it presented as such. Wilkinson's book does not promote the "health or wealth" gospel, the "name it, claim it" gospel or a mandate for genocide as I have heard certain critics claim. The author's theme is not to treat the prayer of Jabez as a magical incantation or a gnostic secret, but as a model prayer to ask God's blessing on the universal church's mission to meet the needs of those who are suffering in body and mind and are spiritually lost without Christ. I encourage all Christians to read this book critically allowing the author to make his own points without preconceived notions, fear or jealousy. Taking it at face value, I believe it is a book that has something to say to today's Christian church that equates activity with accomplishment and to-do lists with God's agenda.
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Summary: My Prayer life has been transformed !
Review: Discovering the prayer of Jabez in I Chronicles 4:9,10 as I read this book has changed my prayer life. Bruce Wilkinson, in writing "The Prayer of Jabez" has opened up for me a glimpse into the Heart of God for me and my life. I am thankful that he obeyed the Lord and wrote this book. I recommend it to every believer who desires to be what God wants him or her to be. May He bless you.....indeed!
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Summary: Warning
Review: If you read through the excerpt of chapter one, you find a grave error in Wilkinson's theology. When he identifies the prayer of Jabez, Wilkinson leaves out the last, and most important part. Wilkinson quotes the prayer, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil." The rest of the prayer, the part that Wilkinson leaves out of his quote says, " . . . that I may not cause pain!" The Bible warns against "vain repitition" and indentifies it as the prayer of the ungodly. Wilkinson takes the prayer of Jabez out of context and turns it into a mantra. The context of Jabez's prayer is this: Jabez's name means "pain." His prayer is simply a plea for God to bless his life--to keep it from fulfilling it's expected destiny of causing pain--so that he can be a blessing to others, rather than a curse. Wilkinson's understanding of this prayer is seriously flawed. I urge anyone interested in his book and it's teaching to dilligently seek the contextual, Biblical understanding of Jabez's prayer. Follow the example of the Bereans in the latter part of the Book of Acts who researched the words of Paul the Apostle to make sure they were true. Study the passage, don't take Wilkinson's word on it. The prayer of Jabez is decidedly NOT a call to prosperity and blessing, but a simple account of a simple man seeking for God to use him to bless the lives of others. Wilkinson claims the prayer "works" and so do many of his readers. But just because a thing "works" doesn't sanction it as a work of God. The Bible warns of end-time deception. Our surest defense against it is a thorough, CONTEXTUAL understanding of God's Word.
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