Living In Abundance Series
“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!” So God granted Him what he requested (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Jabez was neither double-minded nor doubtful that the Lord would indeed answer his prayer. The name Jabez means he will cause pain. His mother called this word over him from the first day of his life until the day he called upon the God of Israel to change it. It was an unbiblical creation of his self-concept, wrongly defining who he was. Giving any problem a name becomes a “body” or a “being” that exists and grows inside your life. Though his destiny was marked by a negative appellation, Jabez determined to push past the pain to increase.
Dear Christian, never believe that you cannot live in abundance. It’s God’s covenant (promise) to His children (John 10:10b) that they have life, and that they have it more abundantly.
Jabez is described in the Bible as more honorable than his brothers. He saw the nakedness of sin surrounding his brothers and refrained from joining them. He witnessed how they prospered in their evil schemes and was disgusted by it. He knew the God of Israel so well that, in holy indignation, he called for God to remove the shameful garment and clothe him in God’s apparel.
Today, we are living in times when folks are scrambling and struggling to acquire fast cash and properties they didn’t work for. Young men and women think they are equal in entitlement to have what they cannot handle once they take it from the more experienced. Patience is a virtue that has been trampled on and swallowed up because many have lost the way.
Standing at the crossroad of life wandering which way to travel, you have two options: the narrow way or the broad way—which is synonymous with the old way or the way things are today. Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16).
Your assurance of who you are in Christ and in the promises of God make you a top candidate for answered prayer for living a life of abundance. The “old” path is the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14), and there are few who find it. Yet it is the very good way toward claiming God’s infinite abundance and sustaining it.
In order to travel the old path successfully, there are garments you have to remove: You must stop comparing yourself with others. You must stop being occupied with getting hurt by the iniquities of others. You must stop wanting others to accept you though you love them deeply. You must stop trying to make things “right” for those who reject you, and walk in your purpose. You cannot “fix” folks who don’t want “fixing”. That means you can love deeply, but until they want to experience that love, you must step into your purpose and pray without ceasing for their good.
Where is your head at? Jabez looked at the condition of his family, especially the behavior of his brothers, and at last, made a decision to shake of the reproach that overshadowed his life, and ask God to give him rest in increase, rest in abundance. He asked God that His hand be in his life to direct him on the good way, the old path, the path to fulfill his God-given purpose. And he asked to be kept from evil—that iniquity does not find him to influence his thoughts, words, and actions toward anything negative (ungodly, sinful) that would cause pain to himself and to others.
Words that have imprisoned your soul up to this day are broken in Jesus’ name! Right now you are restored to the perfect image of how God sees you. You are blessed indeed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit working in you. You are blessed beyond any curse (any evil imaginations) directed at you because the Lord’s hand is on your life. All that was snatched away from you (which was meant for you to fulfill your mission here or earth) is restored this very moment. Believe: Surely (assuredly) goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6a) and the Lord God of Israel shall increase my greatness and comfort me on every side (Psalm 71:21).
Get in agreement with God, let these words sink into your soul, and never speak “Jabez” into your life again. Shout: “I am abundantly blessed!”
© 2020 by Patience Osei-Anyamesem. All rights reserved. Published by The Light In Me Enterprise. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Take My Hand Inspirations
