Answered Prayer

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (ESV)
⁹ Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
¹⁰ Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

This morning as I was reading my daily Bible reading, I read what we have come to know as Jabez’s prayer.  Bruce Wilkenson wrote a couple of books using this prayer as the premise of God doing some very spectacular things.  I know many people who have thought that this prayer was almost like a magical chant that would always result in God doing a “miracle.”  Now I believe that God answers prayers.  I believe that God wants to do things in our lives that actually show Him off, so to speak.  I do not believe that God is ever held captive by a prayer or a verse.  There are more aspects to God answering prayer than just saying a certain one.

John 15:7 (ESV)
⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

You see I think that the most important part of the passage about Jabez is the very first phrase that says that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.”  I believe that Jabez walked with God personally.  Jesus gives us another condition of answered prayer and that is obedience to God’s Word.  We want God to do special things in our lives many times without being “special” with God.  What I mean by being special with God is being holy, righteous, and set apart.  Many people look at God as a genie who grants wishes.  They don’t see Him as God Almighty who deserves to be worshipped and obeyed.  I want to give you a couple of thoughts about God answering our prayers.

1. We must confess our sins.  If we have sin in our lives that is unconfessed to God, He will not answer our prayers.
2. We must be obedient to God’s Word.  I have heard many people say that they need to pray about doing something that is mandated in scripture.  No you don’t have to pray about it.  God’s word says it, therefore do it.
3. We must have faith in God’s ability as well as in His sovereignty.  Many times God answers our prayers differently than we think and so we are not sure that God loves us.  God always loves us.  He also knows what is best for us and for His glory.
4. We must be specific.  I believe that God wants us to pray specifically.  Danielle is going to seminary next month.  I have asked her to list everything that she needs to go, including how much money.  I believe we as a family need to pray about every item, not just say “God help me go to seminary.”
5. We need to pray with the right motives.  As we pray we cannot be selfish or demanding.  We need to be humble before God, yet confident that we can come before Him.

God wants to answer our prayers because as He does He gets glory from our lives.  Every time He answers a prayer we should just brag on God and what He is doing.  As you pray, it is not about saying the right words.  It is about being right with God.