Rating: 
Summary: not really based on the passage
Review: Somehow I can't believe that if God was just waiting for us to pray this prayer because He wanted to shower every believer with miracles, He would have buried it in the genealogies and left it until the twenty-first century to be discovered, but that He would rather have introduced it with something like "in this matter, therefore, pray." The one who prays this prayer daily will be showered with miracles and/or blessings. Oh? Did God promise that somewhere? God answered Jabez's prayer, but then he answered Gideon's fleeces too, and that doesn't prove that's God's preferred method or that everyone should do the exact same thing.Wilkinson says in his short preface that God WILL answer this prayer, and in the book he gives several examples of people "claiming" particular ministries and knowing that if God does not come through they're done for. (That can easily become presumption--I decide what to do and expect God to jump in and help.) The book has some good points: It's a good challenge to say that Christians should get off their duffs and get busy and God will supply their needs, but the problem is that almost none of what he says in the book can legitimately be taken from the passage he uses. He speaks of God's grand blessing in Jabez's life (actually all we know is that God answered one prayer), of how Jabez's motives were focused on God's glory (we're not told that, and God doesn't wait until we have totally pure motives before He answers our prayers), that in praying for an enlarged territory Jabez was asking for greater opportunity to minister. How about the possibility that he prayed for more LAND and God gave it to him because many of his fellow Israelites weren't claiming the land they were supposed to but were instead sniveling in fear? Let's look at the context of the story rather than speculating and prematurely jumping to application. Wilkinson actually challenges readers to pray this prayer daily for a month and reread this book every week in that same period--how is that for taking one small passage of Scripture out of proportion? (Presumably Jabez himself prayed it only once, yet Wilkinson says he has prayed it daily for thirty years and that God promises miracles to those who will pray it!) Ultimately God is sovereign; we are to seek His will and seek to know Him better and, yes, go out in obedience. But we have no biblical warrant for telling God what to do in our lives or demanding miracles, and God does not offer us any miracles for praying this prayer. Nor is there any warrant for making this small passage the cornerstone of one's Christian life. Too bad nobody told Job about that little prayer--he ended up thinking God intended for him to experience some suffering in his life!
Rating:
Summary: Some good insights, but some unanswered questions also
Review: The book makes some excellent observations about the Christian prayer life in general, and is worth reading for sure, but I am disappointed with the author's failure to examine the questions which I am sure tend to arise after reading this book. For example, what happens when God decides to answer your "Jabez prayer" by saying "not right now," or how should a Christian deal with the disappointment of missing an opportunity to "expand God's territory"? The author tends to paint a very encouraging picture of the effects of this prayer, which is, I think, to be expected; however, it seems to me that this is also a somewhat unrealistic portrait in that it does not address the valleys as well as the peaks. A particular instance of this within the book that stood out was an episode in which a youth group led by the author determined to start some backyard ministries and beach ministries in Long Island. The individual who came to train them said that they would achieve huge success if they could get 15 people to attend each of these backyard sessions. The author, after having heard this, told the group that they should "consider it a failure if each group does not have 100 people." The group ended up meeting its goals, and the author rightly attributes this to God's influence and power, and goes on to talk about how each of the members of the youth group went away from the experience having learned what God can do; however, it is this kind of thinking which troubles me. What would have happened if they had gotten 50 people to come to each session? Would that have been considered failure? Further, what would these young members of the youth group have learned then, would God have been any less powerful, or would their prayers have been answered to any lesser extent if they had reached fewer people than they had specifically asked to impact? The Prayer of Jabez is a good concept if applied properly, that is, praying for increased influence and blessing in order to become more useful to God, and to ask Him to "expand His territory" through you. I even concur with the author that it is altogether fitting to pray for opportunities to impact specific people and situations, but I remain somewhat skeptical of episodes like the one described above, as they seem to be placing expectations on God, rather than allowing Him to fulfill His expectations through us.
Rating: 
Summary: Be a Berean
Review: I have some real problems with this book and I am concerned that the Christian community doesn't seem to notice. In the book the author appears to be saying that he has found the magic words which will get you what you want from God. Now on the one hand I believe that God always answers any prayer made by His children, although not always the way we want or in the time period we want. I don't believe that is what the author it trying to convince people of, it seems pretty straight forward that he is trying to say that he has found the prayer that God always answers and he wants to teach us to pray it.
Rating: 
Summary: Personalizing the Prayer of Jabez
Review: Jabez was singled out from all the rest of the descendents of Judah because he asked God to bless him, enlarge his borders, be with him, and keep him from evil, not just bless (prosper) him and increase his borders. As we look at the other descendents of Judah, some were affluent, but not all of them longed for evidence of the presence of God or asked Him to keep them from sin. Jabez's focus was on prosperity with spiritual integrity. If we interpret Jabez's request for blessing and increased influence as spiritual expansion and influence, Dr. Wilkinson is very much within his right to very boldly and correctly promote Jabez's priorities, just as the writer of I Chronicles did. If I personalize the premise of this wonderful little book, I may ask God to cause my work as an educator to succeed, increase my professional influence as I serve with integrity, make me aware of His nearness as I honor Him, and keep me from wrongdoing. That is what Dr. Wilkinson has done. He and the rest of us can ask for blessing (approval or prosperity), expansion of our areas of influence, awareness of God's personal presence, and victory over our own wrongful inclinations. The little book promises its readers the same success that Jabez had for living the way Jabez lived. I feel that there is much more to this little volume than its 93 pages might indicate.
Rating: 
Summary: What exactly is a blessing?
Review: I was rather concerned when I read a review here that stated that this book was a result of Christian people desiring to gain financial and property growth. I had just read the book and found it to be of great significance, so I wondered if what Tracy in Indiana had said was true, did this book promote the gain of blessings that would enlarge my life in physical ways? After analyzing Tracy's comment, I realized that it depends on what you consider a blessing to be. I consider blessings to be much different than house, money and fame. Actually, a blessing to me is quite the opposite, it is the feeling of peace and serenity in your heart regardless of your financial status. In fact, this book never talks about the gain of any earthly things. It talks more about being of greater service to God rather than earning a six-figure income. I think this book should be read carefully and a person should look inside themselves for the true meaning of Christianity when asking God to bless their lives, when we ask for blessing, we are asking for God's will. Often, that doesn't correlate to our translation of blessing. God Bless You!
Rating:
Summary: Read it but also read the original text (prayer) in Hebrew
Review: What 1 Chronicles 4:9-11 says which is what this book is all about in the "Christian" translation is: "And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers and his mother named him Jabez saying, "Because I bore him with pain." Now Jabez called on the G-d of Israel, saying, "Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my borders, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm, and it may not pain me! And G-d granted him what he requested." One thing I do NOT like about this book is the fact it is a book about a Jewish man and a simple Jewish prayer and yet the Christians author completely makes it sound like it is for Christians. Folks, its unethical and sad that someone takes Jewish texts and not only claims them as their own but claims that the text should be used by Christians. Why didn't the author include Jews? Why doesn't the author simply suggest that the Jewish text might work for non-Christians? Yes, it is a simple book that has some good points but the big issue for me is that once again a non-Jew is making big money off Jewish texts and leaving Jews out while doing so. Again I think it smacks at unethical behavior.
Rating:
Summary: Power packed!
Review: Although thin in volume, this book is packed with lots of thought-provoking lessons to make you read and re-read with a highlighter! I am not into the "Prosperity Gospel" or "Name It and Claim It" groups but Dr. Wilkinson clearly demonstrates that God does want us to prosper, to seek Him and to converse with Him. This book demonstrates how deep the Bible truly is - a nationwide bestseller based upon one short, often overlooked verse found in the Old Testament. We can see here that the Father wants His children to be protected and safe, to be victorious and successful. At the same time, we cannot see this prayer as a "magic formula" to make God give us what we want...more wealth, fame, etc. This must be balanced against Jesus' teaching the disciples the Lord's Prayer. Yes, I want more, but Father, Thy will be done. May You mold my heart to be content with whatever You provide and may I learn to give the thanks daily for Your sustaining me. God's blessings upon you! May He enlarge your territory and keep you from evil, and may you walk in His goodness and grace.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book, awesome concept!
Review: This book was recommended to me by my daughter. I read it and have recommended to many others. Today I ordered two, one for my Granddaughter in college and one for the young man that she wants to marry. I know this book will help guide them in making that big decision, along with the others that they will be making in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Life changing-- maybe country or world changing?
Review: The reading of a book is not in itself life changing; but the understanding of this biblical truth accurately and the encouragement to apply it immediately is worth much. I needed to understand many of the unusual things that were going on in my life and that of my family. God does work through His Word mightily and understanding this truth "to enlarge our borders" is one that ALL need to understand in this generation that does not know the God of the Bible. Do we dare to even THINK that God could use us, imperfect that we are? Read it, apply it, pass it on.
Rating:
Summary: Did you read the Bible chapter?
Review: I came across this book because of a Christian's recommendation. Not being a Christian myself, I might be more critical than the rest of you. It seems to me that the Christians who advocate this book just want more wealth and power for themselves. It's a book about becoming more selfish in your faith, not about praising God, not about acknowledging that God, who is awesome, should be revered. Do you think of God as your personal concierge, or as your bodyguard fending off whatever enemies you happen to make while seeking your "blessings"? From reading the chapter in I Chronicles that this book is based on--and I read several different translations--it's clear that Jabez is after more power--more land or territory--and that he wants God to grant him these without impunity. What's really disturbing is the end of the chapter. It shows the way Jabez, supposedly with God's advocation, must have gone about expanding his territory. If he was like his kin in this chapter, he used God's "blessing" as justification for, not just war on his enemies, but genocide. Jabez's kin go to another group's settlement, a quiet and peaceful place, and without being threatened kill those who live there (who are known to be peaceful) and inhabit their dwellings in order to graze their own animals there. But they don't stop with that! They go out and get those who escaped. It's extermination. Why would you want to model yourself on Jabez? What does that have to do with being like Christ?
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