Prayer

 

Is the prayer of Jabez an appropriate prayer for me to pray?

The problem with the movement surrounding the prayer of Jabez is that it has been turned into some kind of promise. Note the whole context of the story of Jabez. 1 Chronicles 4:9 "And Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, 'Because I bore [him] with pain.' 10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep [me] from harm, that [it] may not pain me!' And God granted him what he requested." The fact that God answered Jabez prayer in no way implies you can expect the same. What we do learn is that God cares about the hurts of someone like Jabez. God looked upon Jabez with favor in his honorable and painful life. We could pray this but with no sense of obligation on the part of God.

We should be very careful not to take historical narrative in Scripture as a promise from God. We could give several examples of God answering prayers, but these should not be used as a basis for believing God for the same result. We learn much about God from these narratives. But we should only apply promises given to us.

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Can I expect to get anything I ask for, if I truly believe?

The whole concept of faith or believing is misunderstood. We can only have faith when we have revelation. If God is silent we can have no faith. Romans 10:17 "So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Therefore, if God reveals his promise you can pray with confidence for the fulfillment of that promise. For example, God has promised wisdom in the midst of trials in James 1, you then can pray with confidence that this is His will for you.

You don't know what God's will is in every case. Paul prayed three times for the removal of his "thorn in the flesh." He realized God was leaving it in his life for God's purpose. We should come to God in submission to His will and tell Him our requests. We don't tell God what to do, we ask for our desires with a heart to have His will be done.

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Why do I not get what I ask for, even though I continually ask in Jesus name?

Asking in Jesus’ name does not obligate God. It is in essence saying, “according to Jesus.” The prayer “in Jesus’ name” is to submit to His authority. We are to baptize in the name of Jesus. This speaks to His authority, as is the case with prayer. Therefore when we pray, we pray according to Christ’s purpose, not ours. This is praying in Jesus’ name.