Read 1 Chronicles 4
Earnest Prayer
10 Jabez cried out to
the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let
your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
And God granted his request.
SOME have looked upon this verse as being God’s permission
to just ask God, and he will give you what you desire. I think we all know God
does not give us all we desire. But there is a recurring theme in the Bible of
God’s desire that we earnestly seek him in prayer. See Jesus words: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who
asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be
opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Jesus’ point here
is that your earnest prayers will lead to God’s eternal blessings. In the words
ask, seek and knock you see the ideas of want, loss, and earnestness. “Ask” is
to go to the door of God’s mercy humble to know that you are in great need of God.
Of course, it is God alone who can pour His Spirit into you and strengthen you.
Humbling ask the Holy Spirit to bless you with his power and his truth, and you
will know God’s mercy.
“Seek” means you
search for God to fill your soul. Look everywhere. You will have peace only
when your soul is saved with God’s truth.
“Knock” means you
are to earnestly seek Heaven. If you die without repenting of your sins and
believing in the risen Christ you will perish apart from God.
May your prayers
be prayers that ask with confidence and humility, seek with care and
application and knock with earnestness and perseverance. Receive God’s kingdom
territory.
A Moment’s Thought: Prayer is God’s way. Is it yours?
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