Scripture has many examples of prayers that teach us to depend on God and call upon Him. The prayer of Jabez is very inspiring and challenging for how we approach God with our requests.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that “ALL Scripture is God-breathed, given by His inspiration, and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action, So that the servant of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jabez was not using prayer as a formula to get something from God, rather He was calling upon God to help him accomplish the promises of God!

Jabez was seeking God's provision and direction for his life. So let's look at the prayer of Jabez, remembering ALL SCRIPTURE is God breathed, given by His Inspiration, according to His Purpose.

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, the word of God says:

Jabez was honorable above his brothers; but his mother named him Jabez, Because she bore him in pain.

Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted what he requested. 1 Chronicles ‭4:9-10‬

Lets look at Five Lessons Jabez Teaches Us When Asking of God

1. Noticing the first thing Jabez does is seek and cry out to God. Jabez acknowledges God's Lordship and headship over his life. Jabez recognizes the Lord is the Great God, and the Great King Above All gods. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:3‬ ‬

For the LORD is Great and Greatly to be praised; He is to be feared Above all gods.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96:4‬ ‬

And when you pray begin by acknowledging who God is the Creator of ALL THINGS, the Great I AM WHO I AM, the one To Whom Nothing is Impossible. 2:4, Col 1:16, Exod 3:14, Lk 1:37

2. The next thing Jabez praise is for Blessing. He says, "That you would bless me indeed". to overflowing! Jabez recognizes that all blessings come from God alone, and His Blessing is Unlimited. In Hebrew, adding indeed to the prayer was like adding five! Arriving requesting capital letters and underlining.

Jabez is raising his voice to heaven and crying out, and you do the same saying, "Father, father God! Please bless me! That I may be a blessing to others.

To bless means to ask for or to impart supernatural favor. When you asked for God's blessing, your crying out for the wonderful unlimited goodness that only God has the power to give you. Proverbs 10:22 defined as: the Lord's blessing is your Greatest Wealth and All your works add nothing to it.

Jabez's focus on what God wants for him. He leaves it entirely up to God to decide what the blessing would be and where, when, and how he would receive them.

3. Then Jabez ask God to, Enlarge his Borders, multiply His territory, Increase his sphere of influence. He is seeking to live to God and be His Blessing to the World.

God's Purpose for You Is to Minister to Others. So I Pray for You That the Eyes of Your Understanding Would Be in Enlighten in Order That You May Know the Hope to Which God Is Called You, the Riches of the Glorious Inheritance in the Same, and Exceeding Greatness of His Power toward You Who Believes. Ephesians 1:18–19.

Jabez wasn't simply asking to have his physical land multiplied, but to impact the kingdom of God. He wanted his spiritual territory to increase, to claim generations for the Lord God. For Overthrowing and Destroying the Strongholds of the wicked one. Heal the land. 2 Corinthians 10:4

God says in Psalms 2:8 – Asked Me, and I Will Make the Nations Your Inheritance, the Inns of the Earth Your Possession.

When you start asking God for more influence and responsibility that honor him, he brings opportunities of people into your path. You nearly will always feel in adequate when he begins to take new territory through you. He does this so that you will depend on him.

To pray for more territory, larger borders and increased sphere of influence is to ask for a miracle, God's intervention to glorify God.

4. Next Jabez ask for God's "hand be with him." – Jabez wanted God to be in every moment of his day. He understood the power of God’s hand to protect and to lead in the right direction.

Just as Psalms 145:16 says: God Opens His Hand and Satisfies Every Living Thing with Favor.

Jabez new as Moses did that you need God's Presence with you. Exodus 33:15-17

Dependence on God to be with you, releases God's power to accomplish his will and bring him glory through all he does with you and through.

You asked for God's hand upon you you're making a divine choice to be sustained and to continue to do the great things God has begun in your life. You simply become dependent on his strong hand, and you surrender your needs into his unlimited opportunities; and he does great things through you.

When you pray, request more than blessings and provision but that God’s hand would lead you through any circumstances and trials that come your way. THAT is a Great Blessing.

5. Finally Jabez ask God to "keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain” and I will not cause pain. The name Jabez literally means “born with pain”. His own mother named him this because of the pain she endured in labor!

When Jabez prays, he speaks against the testimony of his name and lets go of the shame it covered him in. Jabez last request is strategically important for sustaining a blessed life.

Remember when you break out of the ordinary and transcending to new heights, you are taking on new territory for God, guess who stirs your invading?

When you pray asking God's presence to be with you you're asking for supernatural power to work through your weaknesses and to help protect you from all the fiery darts of the enemy. Ephesians 6:10-12

Jesus tells when you pray to asked the Father to Lead you not into temptation but deliver you from the evil. Matthew 6:13 recognizing that you are weak, but God is strong.