The stand-out prayer

Originally written March 14

Today: 1 Chronicles 3-5

Have you ever prayed a stand-out prayer?

In my book, a “stand-out” prayer isn’t necessarily loud. And it’s probably not full of fancy words. A stand-out prayer is simply memorable—maybe not because of what you said, but because of what God did in response.

In today’s passage, I’d describe the prayer of Jabez as a stand-out prayer. These chapters are mostly filled with genealogies (again), but there are some small stories—Jabez’s being one of them—interspersed in. It’s interesting because with Jabez, we don’t even read much of a story at all, just a simple prayer. Here’s what it says:

Jabez prayed to the God of Israel:

"Bless me, O bless me!

Give me land, large tracts of land.

And provide your personal protection—don't let evil hurt me."

God gave him what he asked.

In some ways, I’m a little puzzled why this prayer made it into the Bible. Jabez didn’t pray for someone else’s healing. He didn’t pray to win a battle. He didn’t ask for some miraculous sign. To be honest, his prayer sounds a little selfish—it’s focused on asking God to bless him personally and materially. This is a stand-out prayer?!?

But hold on—prayer is often about so much more than words (if anyone can see through a mask of phony words, it’s God!). Prayer is also an expression of our faith. While Jabez’s words may sound selfish, were a statement of his trust in God. Jabez was, in essence, admitting that he needed God’s help to provide for his family and to live in safety. Ultimately, he depended on God—not himself, the earth, other people or idols--for provision and protection.

What made Jabez’s simple words stand out? God’s response: God gave him what he asked.
I won’t tell you that Jabez’s prayer was the most significant prayer in the Bible (Jesus prayed those and gave us some great model prayers). The prayer of Jabez is definitely a stand-out prayer—and so is the heart of faith and trust behind it.

Tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 6