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November 6, 2023
Jabez Prayed and So Can You
Beloved, there was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother called him Jabez because his birth was very painful. Jabez or Jabes in Hebrew means I gave birth to him in pain. He was a biblical male who was in the lineage of the kings’ tribe of Judah.’ His family wasn’t mentioned, but he was a man whose prayer to God for blessing was answered. Jabez was marked with ‘sorrow’ at birth, but his prayer nullified this label. He defied all odds, including his supposed destiny, and became a man of fervent prayer. He believed so strongly in the power of God that he cried out to him boldly. Jabez prayed, and God changed his destiny. You, too, can pray, and God will change your future.
Jabez prayed to the God of Israel, saying, ‘O that You would indeed bless me, enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) He received his inheritance by faith in his heritage. God blessed him not with prosperity because of his prayers, but with provision for God’s will to execute through his life, and God wishes to accomplish through your life. His prayer was a cry for God to bless him as a part of God’s covenant people, and He did.
Think about this, for Jabez to be mentioned in the book of Chronicles, though briefly, tells us this man displayed extraordinary character during his life. And the fact that he was named in the book means he had a significant role in fulfilling as well. Your name has a meaning. What does your name mean in Hebrew? My name Judy means ‘praise.’ Every time someone calls my name, I hear Praise! Interestingly, without knowing that, my whole walk with God without knowing I have said, ‘Praise the Lord!’ Praise a weapon!
My grandson’s name is Joshua Caleb. Joshua means ‘Yahweh saves or delivers.’ Caleb, in Hebrew, means ‘faithful, wholehearted, bold and brave.’ Why am I sharing this? When Joshua Caleb was born, the first time I held him in my arms, I heard the Holy Spirit say, ‘This baby is a pastor.’ With tears in my eyes, I shared that with our family in the room! From the day he was born, I have prophesied over Joshua – he is my preacher, man! When he was around the age of two, he went through a stage of wanting to be a cowboy. He slept with his cowboy boots, belt buckle, and attire. I began calling him, ‘Nana’s little cowboy, preacher man!’ When he was around five years old, I bought him a Superman pajama set with a cape. He began climbing and jumping off things with his pajamas and cloak on. Again, I started calling him Nana’s little cowboy, superman, preacher man! Prophesying his future. Every time I have given him a card, I have signed it for twenty-nine years, ‘Joshua, you will always be Nana’s little cowboy, superman, preacher man. Why? I know what I heard the Holy Spirit say, and I call those things that be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)
Four years ago in July, I came home from a ministry trip and was surprised by the news Joshua and his wife were becoming parents. When they shared this exciting news, I was overwhelmed. He turned to me with a big smile on his face and said, ‘Nana, who knows – maybe God will give you two cowboys, supermen, preacher men!’ I said, ‘Just go right ahead, Joshua, and prophecy! Then, I looked him in the eyes and said, ‘Joshua, you may not be a pastor right now, but I am telling you before you leave this earth you will be a preacher man!’ He grinned big and gave me the best hug a grandmother could receive from a grandchild. The following February, he and his wife had a beautiful baby boy. I declare and decree this baby is anointed and called by God just like his Daddy!
Agree and pray with me:
I break every word curse that has been spoken over you from the womb to this moment. I sever those word curses at the root and renounce them and command them to be null and void in the name of Jesus just like Jabez did. I declare and release the blessing of the Lord over you from this day forward. What you speak into the atmosphere will manifest! I declare you are called, chosen, loved, and appointed for such a time as this! I declare and decree on the authority of the Word of God, I am called by God, anointed, appointed, equipped, and empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit that works mightily in me! I was called and chosen by God before the foundations of the earth. Predestined for me to be adopted as a son of God through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:4-5) I declare this day I will praise God for His glorious grace, which He has so freely and generously given in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Amen!
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