God has a sense of humor

I can remember when our kids were little and we lived on a farm. The beginning of spring meant an Easter egg huntThe trick was to hide the eggs in such a way that they would be right in the middle of an unlikely place. They would be overlooked unless a careful examination of the location was made. Imagine the joy in the mind of the one who finds the treasure in the unlikely place.

This joy has happened to many of us but it triggered a real and lasting enthusiasm n the mind of Bruce Wilkinson when he found the prayer of Jabez. It contains only two verses but it has such tremendous power it can change anybodies life that will use it. AND it is stuck right in the middle of some of the most boring reading in the entire Bible, the list of the begats in the 4th chapter of First Chronicles verses 9 and 10.

The book, The Prayer of Jabez has earned well over a million dollars. I tell you that to illustrate its power. But even though it has such tremendous power it is totally worthless unless it is prayed by a believer.

When you get this prayer I advise you to trace the outline of your right hand on a blank piece of paper. That will give you a very familiar outline that has five points. Then in your own handwriting.

On the Thumb write Bless Me Indeed

On the first finger put Enlarge My Coast

On the tall finger Let God Guide Me

On the ring finger put the words Keep Me From Evil

Then on the little finger instead of don’t let it grieve me put

DON’T LET ME DO ANYTHING I WILL BE SORRY FOR LATER.

Then if you will look at that hand picture at least 5 times a day for a week you will have memorized the prayer and then you can say it many times a day every day.

If you will do that you will begin to realize that you do have God’s favor, and your life will get better.

You will find that your goals really are attainable.

You can actually help more people.

The prayer of Jabez can be found in First Chronicles Chapter 4 verse 9. This particular short story contains a tremendous lesson. Pastor Bruce Wilkinson wrote a best seller book about this lesson.

9And Jabez was more honorable than his bretheren and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bore him with sorrow. 10And Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that he requested.

Notice he asked for 5 things

1. Bless me indeed. This means asking for God’s favor. He is asking that everything he said or did would be in accordance with God’s will and in return God would show him the right choices.

2. Enlarge my coast. This is a request to be shown more opportunities. What else can I do in order to serve God better? God certainly depends upon the leadership of the people he chooses to bless with the job of being leaders. If you have God’s favor , the thing he asked for in his first request, it will follow then as it does in any good business, or lesson plan or surgical operation or planning a speech or any job activity.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

3. That Thine Hand would be with me. God’s Protection and leading is sure to be the correct path. God will be sure that you avoid errors or pitfalls.

4. Keep me from evil. The forces of evil, greed, malice, envy, hatred, unforgiveness, slander, even things like accidental slighting or hurting others can all diminish your greatness.

5. That it may not grieve me. In other words, keep me from doing anything I would be sorry for later.

THEN NOTICE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN HIM WHAT HE ASKED FOR!

The lesson for me and you is that what God has done for others, He can and WILL do for you!

Dr. Bob Scott

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