In Ephesians 3:20 I read, “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." (NIV)
God wants me to live my life to the fullest. He doesn’t want me to live an average life, without any dreams and goals. As I read yesterday, God wants me to have great ambition and a growing faith. He also wants me to have a genuine prayer life.
Jabez had a genuine prayer life. And it was the real secret to accomplishing his dreams. He prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV). And then the verse continues, “God granted his request.”
It’s not possible to out-ask or out-dream God. The Bible says, “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). So it’s ok to go ahead and stretch my imagination to the greatest thing that could possibly happen, and then realize that God can go beyond that.
Jabez knew this about God, so he prayed three things:
First, Jabez prayed for God’s power in his life. He prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me.” It seems a bit self-serving to ask God to bless me. It seems selfish.” But according to God, asking for blessings is absolutely fine. He’s not some big policeman up in the sky waiting for me to make one wrong move so he can pounce on me. He wants to bless my life.
Secondly, Jabez prayed for God’s presence in his life. He prayed, “Let Your hand be with me.” He asked for God’s presence. Jabez knew that if he got more land and a larger territory, he would have greater demands and more responsibilities. He knew he’d need God’s help with it all.
Lastly, Jabez prayed for God’s protection over his life. He prayed, “Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” Why does Jabez ask for God’s protection? Because he knew this: The more successful I am, the more critics I’ll have. The same thing is true in the Christian life: The closer I grow to the Lord, the stronger I become as a Christian and the more the Devil will hassle me.
What do you want God to do in your life? Help you with a problem? Ask him to help you with some goals? Ask him. First, get the motive behind my goals and dreams in alignment with God. Next, pray the three things Jabez prayed; for God’s power, for God’s presence, and for God’s protection. And then watch how God answers your prayers!
In summary, God is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me. God wants me to live my life to the fullest. He doesn’t want me to live an average life, without any dreams and goals. God wants me to have great ambition and a growing faith. He also wants me to have a genuine prayer life. Jabez had a genuine prayer life. And it was the real secret to accomplishing his dreams. It’s not possible to out-ask or out-dream God. It’s ok to go ahead and stretch my imagination to the greatest thing that could possibly happen, and then realize that God can go beyond that. Jabez knew this about God, so he prayed three things: First, Jabez prayed for God’s power in his life. It seems a bit self-serving to ask God to bless me. It seems selfish.” But according to God, asking for blessings is absolutely fine. He wants to bless my life. Secondly, Jabez prayed for God’s presence in his life. Jabez knew that if he got more land and a larger territory, he would have greater demands and more responsibilities. He knew he’d need God’s help with it all. Lastly, Jabez prayed for God’s protection over his life. He knew that the more successful he beame, the more critics he would have. Likewise, the closer I grow to the Lord, the stronger I become as a Christian and the more the Devil will hassle me. What do you want God to do in your life? Ask him to help me. First, get the motive behind my goals and dreams in alignment with God. Next, pray the three things Jabez prayed; for God’s power, for God’s presence, and for God’s protection. And then watch how God answers your prayers!
Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in me. By this power he can do infinitely more than I could ever ask or imagine. Faith starts with stretching my imagination. It begins with a concept, vision or a mental picture. It always starts with an idea. As an example, God gave Abraham a picture. Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Abraham has something he could visualize. God will grow my faith by stretching my imagination, by giving me a dream. What I can dream and believe in faith, I can achieve.
Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me.
Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.
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