HomeTuesday, February 5, 2013
I want to tell you a story about a girl who wanted desperately to do something for God, but wasn't sure what to do, how to do it, or if God had something He even needed her to do. One day, she was told about a book. It was called 'Prayer of Jabez'.
She was told that by praying the prayer of Jabez each day, God would open up doors for her - doors she could never have opened herself.
It sounded strange to her that a single verse from the bible being prayed each day would amount to anything but some wasted time. Reluctantly, she began to pray the prayer of Jabez. At first, it was just words with no meaning behind them. Day after day, she said the words with no thought of what they actually meant.
When nothing happened, she decided to concentrate on the words she was praying. As she prayed, she began to get nervous. What if God needed her for something she wasn't ready for? What if life as she knew it would change so drastically, she couldn't do what God wanted.
For a while, she put the prayer of Jabez
in the back of her mind. She'd heard stories of people being sent by God to a foreign country to live the rest of their lives as missionaries. What if he sent her?
Weeks went by and the need to do something for God surrounded her and wouldn't let her rest.
Finally, she decided giving all of herself to God was what she needed to do. So what if she had to leave her comfort zone? So what if she had to make a move?
She realized that God would not call her to do something she couldn't. He wouldn't ask her to do something she wasn't capable of. When she realized these things and truly believed them, she began praying the prayer again - this time with more feeling and urgency.
Once she gave it all to God and was ready to let him be in charge of her life, something happened.
As she was sitting at home one afternoon, the phone rang. It was the pastor's daughter. She began the phone conversation by telling her that a Sunday school teacher had just left the church and a position was now open. Then, the big question came - would you be willing to fill that position as the new Sunday school teacher?
The pastor's daughter said, 'Now, we don't expect an answer right away. You need to pray about it first and see if it is what The Lord wants.'
The girl answered, "Are you kidding? I've been praying about this for nearly a year. I wasn't exactly sure what I was praying for, but I knew when God needed me, he'd let me know. I don't need another second to think about it - YES!'
That was more than 8 years ago.
Since then, that girl has not only taught Sunday school, but has coordinated pre-school VBS, taught the church youth group, started a Christian blog (which you are reading), written several Christian children's bible studies, written two Christian fiction books, and opened a Christian family website.
How do I know all of this?
Because I am that girl.
Where can you find the prayer of Jabez? As you read the prayer of Jabez, be sure you understand that God will use you if you are willling to let him.
God bless you.
1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV
She was told that by praying the prayer of Jabez each day, God would open up doors for her - doors she could never have opened herself.
It sounded strange to her that a single verse from the bible being prayed each day would amount to anything but some wasted time. Reluctantly, she began to pray the prayer of Jabez. At first, it was just words with no meaning behind them. Day after day, she said the words with no thought of what they actually meant.
When nothing happened, she decided to concentrate on the words she was praying. As she prayed, she began to get nervous. What if God needed her for something she wasn't ready for? What if life as she knew it would change so drastically, she couldn't do what God wanted.
For a while, she put the prayer of Jabez
in the back of her mind. She'd heard stories of people being sent by God to a foreign country to live the rest of their lives as missionaries. What if he sent her?Weeks went by and the need to do something for God surrounded her and wouldn't let her rest.
Finally, she decided giving all of herself to God was what she needed to do. So what if she had to leave her comfort zone? So what if she had to make a move?
She realized that God would not call her to do something she couldn't. He wouldn't ask her to do something she wasn't capable of. When she realized these things and truly believed them, she began praying the prayer again - this time with more feeling and urgency.
Once she gave it all to God and was ready to let him be in charge of her life, something happened.
As she was sitting at home one afternoon, the phone rang. It was the pastor's daughter. She began the phone conversation by telling her that a Sunday school teacher had just left the church and a position was now open. Then, the big question came - would you be willing to fill that position as the new Sunday school teacher?
The pastor's daughter said, 'Now, we don't expect an answer right away. You need to pray about it first and see if it is what The Lord wants.'
The girl answered, "Are you kidding? I've been praying about this for nearly a year. I wasn't exactly sure what I was praying for, but I knew when God needed me, he'd let me know. I don't need another second to think about it - YES!'
That was more than 8 years ago.
Since then, that girl has not only taught Sunday school, but has coordinated pre-school VBS, taught the church youth group, started a Christian blog (which you are reading), written several Christian children's bible studies, written two Christian fiction books, and opened a Christian family website.
How do I know all of this?
Because I am that girl.
Where can you find the prayer of Jabez? As you read the prayer of Jabez
, be sure you understand that God will use you if you are willling to let him.God bless you.
1 Chronicles 4:10 KJV
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest 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 which he requested.
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