[Aquinasfan]

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical of the whole "prayer of Jabez" phenomenon. I had kind of lumped it in with name-it-and-claim-it-ism. But the author makes the case for the prayer very nicely.

[anniegetyourgun]

Regardless of how it may come across, the Word of God does not come back void. I'm praising God that many who have never read the Word may have read this little book. While we don't want folks to treat God like a celestial bellhop, perhaps some will actually take the time to get to know the One to whom they are praying this little prayer.

[spycatcher]

Problems With the Prayer of Jabez --Berit Kjos

[Illbay]

I'm curious how reciting this rote prayer to "activate" certain heavenly blessings, is any different from the same sort of thing practiced in certain pagan religions, like Santeria.

They, too, think you can recite certain formulaic prayers, to bring the favor of the "saints" that they have synthesized from both west African mythology and Roman Catholicism.

[aruanan]

“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, that I may not cause pain!”

It's sort of interesting that the last clause is translated so only in the New King James Version* and that in his book he doesn't discuss it at all. Still, I don't see anything wrong with praying that G-d will increase our territory. Of course, I'm thinking of territory as that which lies within my control. There are all sorts of areas in my life that I'd like to have more fully under my control: disciplined use of my time and abilities, restraining myself from a tendency to despair when things get tough, doing what has to be done regardless of how I feel, etc..

*It doesn't matter how much one paraphrases it, the Textus Receptus is still an inferior instrument being derived from later and more corrupt manuscripts (even though the beauty of the English in the KJV is fantastically wonderful--though dated and, hence, to that degree unintelligible). People have known this for over 400 years. By the way, the name "textus receptus" got its start as an advertising blurb for a particular edition translated from a certain set of manuscripts. It stuck and conferred upon these documents an authority they didn't at all deserve.

[Walkin Man]

Matthew 8:20
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Luke 20
You know the commandments: `Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Luke 9 23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

The problem I have with praying for wealth and riches are these teachings of my Lord Jesus, who didn't even have a place to lay his head on this earth. What makes me or anyone else better than The Son of God, Himself? Taking up my cross and denying myself just doesn't sound like rolling in the lap of luxury to me.

[zeaal]

When hearing of all the wonderful blessings people are receiving I wonder this ....

Could it be that these blessings were happening in these peoples' lives all along and there were not aware of them because they were not 'praying for a blessing' specifically in their minds?

Could it be that since they began to pray a prayer that they have become more cognizant of the blessings that were already in their lives but did not take the time be be aware of them?

I am the grateful recipient of blessings daily. From just waking in the morning full of grateful thoughts to my spouse being blessed with a bonus at work.

They are all blessings from the Lord.

Perhaps, we all need to encounter life with gratitude to recognize our blessings, the blessings that were already there and those to come.

[Jerry_M]

I much prefer this commentary of the "Prayer of Jabez" to that of Wilkinson:

The Prayer of Jabez -C.H. Spurgeon

[jude24]

Merchandising... thats all it is.

Gotta run, i'll look at this thread later.

[Marysecretary]

I LOVED THIS BOOK AND SO DID MY HUSBAND. He doesn't read much but this was a short volume and now we both pray the prayer every day. God WANTS to bless us not so we can keep the blessing ourselves but to bless others. He wants to give us supernatural gifts in order to be able to bless others. To enlarge our territory only means to give us more opportunities for ministry. We need to have God's hand upon that ministry and to have the anointing for it. We need his protection against the evil one and not to cause any evil or pain ourselves. It's a wonderful prayer and I buy the book at Walmart's every time I go in as Christmas gifts to my loved ones. I tell folks not to knock it til they've tried it! Great book. Thanks for the post.

[TexasRepublic]

Parroting a formulaic prayer does no more good than spinning a prayer wheel. It is mechanistic with no thought or feeling behind it.

[jude24]

Okay, now I have time for a more detailed critique.

The objections to books like The Prayer of Jabez center on two main points. One is theological, and the other is moral.

If there is a prayer for the believer to pattern his life around... is it the one found in an obscure text of Old Testament never again quoted? It would seem to me that the Lord's Prayer has much more to recommend itself than Jabez. It's in both Matthew and Luke, and was given expressly as a pattern, unlike Jabez. When the disciples asked Christ to teach them to pray, He did not say, "You know this man Jabez? This is how you should pray." Not at all. He said, "When you pray, say: 'Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven....'" (Luke 11:2) and so on and so forth.

The Prayer of Jabez is sorely lacking in much that the Lord's prayer communicates. The Lord's Prayer begins with worship ("Hallowed be thy name") and a proper understanding of God as Sovreign, and by extension, our relationship to Him as dependent servants ("thy kingdom come, thy will be done...."). Only then does the Lord's prayer make a request for even the basic necessities of life (daily bread), but not without acknowleging our unworthiness and asking for forgiveness.

I challange you to find anywhere near that amount in the Prayer of Jabez. The best anyone has come up with was that he prayed for an enlarged ministry, which is dubious to me, at best. All I can see is that the man prayed for more land, and that he wouldn't "cause pain."

And as for the reciting it every day bit... that seems to me "vain reptition," which is derided in the Sermon the Mount.

Then there's the question of all the merchandising going on in the name of Jabez... tshirts... cd's... keychains... bumper stickers... coffee cups. What's next? Jabez:the Lunchbox? Jabez: The Breakfast Cereal?

[Lightworker]

The only testimony I have about "The Prayer of Jabez" is my own. Back in late August, of this year, I bought the book and began to pray the "Prayer of Jabez." The very first day God, quite literally, enlarged my territory! It was definitely cool and an encouragement to continue praying this specific prayer - along with other prayers said in my day. There is a point, I think, being missed here - Wilkinson advocates that this prayer enlarges one's territory for the "Glory of God" not man. Is it not a testimony unto God's greatness that those who worship Him are blessed? Especially in a way that "non-believers" can visibly see? Many Blessings, Lightworker

[incindiary]

I think the critics of this book are misunderstanding it. No, its not about trying to get money or material things out of God, or what we want. At least that's not what its supposed to be about.

The requests in Jabez's prayer are asked in accordance to God's will. About the second one - "enlarge my territory".... IMO, what the author tried to get across was that it means asking God to use you to further His Kingdom. To reach other people and "live large" for God.

The other criticism I keep hearing is that the author teaches to recite this prayer by rote, like a chant, and not a heartfelt prayer. Of course this is what pagans do, and it goes against what Jesus said about how to pray. I can't speak for the author, but I don't think that is what he meant. He just stated that he prays the Jabez prayer everyday, and that he has been incredibly blessed in his life.

I liked the book, and despite the controversy, I think its bringing a lot of people to God.... the fact that a Christian book is on top of the best sellers list is a great thing, don't you think?

[Free the USA]

bump