How to Make the Prayer of Jabez Personal

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It was one of the most amazing conferences I’ve ever been to.

Hundreds of pastors and wives gathered to attend a special weekend at Ridgecrest Retreat Center near Black Mountain, NC. Our keynote speaker was author Bruce Wilkinson.

That was the first time I heard about a little prayer tucked away in the pages of 1 Chronicles 4:10.

It’s called, “The Jabez Prayer,” and it’s a wonderful little prayer packed with power.

I’d like to invite you to read over the words and pray these words back to the Lord for your life and your future.

Honestly, I started praying these words almost every day 20 years ago, and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life since I began.


Honestly, I started praying these words almost every day 20 years ago, and I have seen the Lord do amazing things in my life since I began. Click To Tweet


It’s not some hocus-pocus; instead, it’s taking the words of scripture and praying them back to the Lord.

In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples:

“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”


So, today, would you pray with me and believe

that God can answer your prayers?



The Prayer of Jabez:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”

So God granted him what he requested.

1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV


How to Make the Prayer of Jabez Personal


And Jabez called on the God of Israel.

Jabez called out to God!

We aren’t told why he called out to God. All we know is that he was an honorable man who believed in the power of prayer.

You can call out to God as well!

Even if you’ve never prayed much before, you can begin today.



Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, Father, we call upon You. You are the God of Israel and You are my God. You are the God who saves me, and I trust You. Thank You that when I call upon You, You promise to listen.

Also, You tell me You will answer me and show me marvelous things that I do not know.

Would You do that today?

Would You hear and answer me? And, would You show me great and mighty things that I need to know?”


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


Oh, that You would bless me indeed.

Jabez begins his prayer by asking the Lord to bless him.

He doesn’t just ask for blessings, he invites God to bless him indeed – to overflowing.

You can pray this way as well.

Ask God to bless you to overflowing!


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Lord, would You bless me indeed. Would You open up the heavens and pour out rich blessings upon my life? As I bring my tithes and gifts to You, would You open the windows of heaven for me? Will You pour out a blessing so great that I won’t have enough room to take it in?

Father, I ask You to bless me spiritually. I praise You, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the way You have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.


Also, Pray:

I ask that You bless me with the peace that passes understanding, with joy overflowing, with wisdom to see and understand Your ways, with Your love for those around me, with discernment as I make decisions, and with grace for unexpected turns up ahead.  

Also, I ask You to bless me financially. As I work, budget, save, tithe, and live; would You make me wise with my finances? You promise to provide all that we need for life and godliness. Would You graciously provide for every true need of our lives?

And, would You bless me with power and strength today? I need You! Without You, I’m a mess. But, with You, I can do all things. I ask that You anoint me, endorse me, empower me, encourage me, and establish me. Additionally, would You bless the work of my hands today?”


You can pray this way as well. Ask God to bless you to overflowing! Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. Here is how to make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez


And enlarge my territory.

Next, Jabez asked God to give him more territory, more influence, and larger borders.

He asked God to expand his world – financially, relationally, spiritually, emotionally, and in all of life.

You can pray and invite God to expand your world and enlarge your territory as well.


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, God, would You enlarge my territory? Would You expand my horizons and my borders? Would You take my life and use me like You never have before?

I will enlarge the place of my tent; stretch out the curtains of my dwellings, spare not; lengthen my cords, and strengthen my pegs. As I do this and make more room, I ask You to abundantly work in and through my life.  

Would You enlarge my influence, enlarge my ministry, enlarge my work and business, enlarge my heart for You? Lord, Would You give me a love for You greater than I’ve ever had? Would You give me a love for the Bible and prayer as I’ve never had in the past?

And, would You give me more love for the lost and those in need as I’ve never had before? Would You give me the desire to know You above all else? Deep within my heart, light a fire for You that will passionately burn and grow. I want to know You.”


You can pray and invite God to expand your world and enlarge your territory as well. Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


That Your hand would be with me.

Also, Jabez asks for God to be with him, show him favor, and give him grace. Jabez didn’t want to walk through life without God’s presence or His favor.

We also can ask God to keep His hand of favor and blessing in our lives. As we pray, we can invite Him to bestow His great grace in our lives.


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Lord, let Your hand be with me; I’ve chosen to walk with You. I’ve chosen Your Word and Your way. Thank You that I don’t have to fear because You are with me.

You strengthen me, help me, and uphold me with Your righteous right hand. I ask that Your hand would lead me, protect me, strengthen me, and be an all-sufficient hand for my life. I’m so thankful that You are with me.

By Your great hand, would You guide me and lead me? Counsel me with Your eye on me. Allow me to hear Your voice behind me saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’  

By Your hand, would You also protect me? Keep me from places I don’t need to go to. Keep me from people I don’t need to see or deal with today. Surround me with Your protection. You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; and, You surround me with songs of deliverance. Thank You for being with me.”


We also can ask God to keep His hand of favor and blessing on our lives. As we pray, we can invite Him to bestow His great grace on our lives. Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


And that You would keep me from evil.

From the time we were young, most of us have prayed “The Lord’s Prayer.”

In this prayer, we repeat the words, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.”

That’s the idea of this next part of Jabez’s prayer. He’s asking God to keep him from evil and to keep evil from him.

Indeed, we can pray this way as well. We would be wise to ask God to keep us from evil and to keep evil away from us.


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“Oh, Father, deliver me from evil. Keep me from the evil of affliction, and especially from the evil of sin. Keep me also from the evil one, Satan, and all evil men and evil company.

Additionally, would You keep me from the evil of trouble and all the evil designs of my enemies, that they might not hurt my life or my family? I ask that You protect me from evil as I press in close to You.

Also, Pray:

In addition, Lord, I ask that You give me victory over evil as I put on Your armor. I am strong in You and Your mighty power. I will stand with the belt of truth buckled around my waist.

I’ll put on the breastplate of righteousness and have my feet ready to share the gospel of peace. I’ll take up the shield of faith, which will enable me to extinguish all of the flaming arrows of the evil one. And, I’ll put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit – Your Word.

Thank You that as I suit up, You will give me victory over evil today.” 


Indeed, we can pray this way as well. We would be wise to ask God to keep us from evil and to keep evil away from us. Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. Here is how to make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez


That I may not cause pain.

This last part of the prayer is a little strange.

Most scholars seem to agree that he was referring to the meaning of his name. Jabez means, “born in pain or sorrow.”

Possibly his mother had a difficult delivery. We aren’t sure. But, we do know she named him, “Pain.”

That’s what makes this part of prayer so interesting!

His prayer is that God would transform his life, bless him, and allow him to not be a person of grief or a person who caused grief.

In other words, Jabez asked God to miraculously transform his pain and his name into something beautiful. God can do that!


God Can Use It All!

Truly, He can take our pasts, our mistakes, and our deepest sorrows, and use them in amazing ways–if we will just surrender them to Him.

What do you need God to transform in your life today?

Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory?

Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace?


Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory? Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace? Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

‘Father, would you take all of these painful things that have happened in my life and recreate them into something beautiful?

Would you take ________, and _________, and _________, and use these hurtful things for my good and Your glory?

I surrender all of this hurt that has weighed me down to You. I want to find and experience victory again. Would You help?

Thank you for the words of Isaiah 66:9, “In the same way, I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born.” In my life, would You make this true beginning today?

Where there has been pain, would you allow something new to be born?

Thank You that You can restore anything, anyone, at any time. I will trust You with my pain and my hurt.’


What do you need God to transform in your life today? Why not pray and invite Him to turn your greatest sorrow into your greatest victory? Your deepest pains into a beautiful pulpit of grace? Click To Tweet


So God granted him what he requested. 

This last little sentence is just added quietly and matter-of-fact at the end of the prayer.

God answered Jabez’s prayers.

God did it!

And, what God did for Jabez, He is also able to do for you!


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. One of my favorites is the Prayer of Jabez. Here is how you can make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez #powerfulprayer


Here is a prayer that you might pray:

“God, You are the granter of requests, the One who answers prayer, and the only One to whom I turn right now. I ask that, as you did with Jabez, You would grant me Your favor and answer my prayers.

You can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that I might ask or think. You are able! And, You are God.

Father, I love You because You hear my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because You bend down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!

Thank You for hearing my prayer today.

I do love you, Lord. 

In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.”


God answered Jabez's prayers. God did it! And, what God did for Jabez, He is also able to do for you! Click To Tweet


There are some wonderful models of prayer in the Bible. We can take them, use, them, and pray them. Here is how to make the Prayer of Jabez personal. #prayer #prayerofjabez


Verses used today in today’s post and prayers: 1 Chronicles 4:10, Psalm 55:15; Jer. 33:3; Ephesians 1:3; Psalm 119:173; Isaiah 41:10, Ephesians 6; Psalm 66; Psalm 116; Matthew 7; Ephesians 3:20.



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48 Comments

Souvenir · 11/25/2022 at 10:18 AM

Thank you for those powerful prayer concerning Jabez. That was so beautiful. God bless your heart.

JENNIE · 10/30/2021 at 10:00 PM

Hello Melanie,
I so needed to see this tonight, I have been so depressed discouraged seems like everything is just falling apart mentally, physically, financially. I have never seen my self in such a spiral such as now, the prayer of James always stuck in my head, but I couldn’t put my words into the way I am feeling, but when I came across your page making Janet prayer your own, and I prayed the prayers your had down, I honestly felt hope, especially on the end when it says Prayers will be answered. As I know God answers prayers. Please pray for me.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 11/03/2021 at 11:46 AM

    Hey Jennie,
    I’m pausing to pray for you right now… asking God to bless you indeed and to enlarge your borders!
    Keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep talking to God about these things!
    Matthew 7:7-8 reminds us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
    Keep me updated~
    Blessings to you,
    Melanie

LV Scott · 06/23/2021 at 5:05 AM

Thank you so much I’ve being praying this pray daily for my grandson you see he have angry issues and ADHD and I’m so greatful for this 21day pray.Thank you.Vickie Scott

    helloredds@gmail.com · 06/25/2021 at 8:34 AM

    Amen, Vickie!
    Praying with you for your grandson!
    Blessings to you and to him,
    Melanie

Marcia · 05/29/2021 at 12:43 PM

Hi Melanie:
Thank you for the personalized Jabez prayer. May God bless you and your family. I published my first book and pray that God will enlarge my border so that parents will use the information in the book to make informed decision on children’s technology usage. God bleed you all!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 06/03/2021 at 8:17 AM

    Hey Marcia,
    Thank you so much for your encouragement!
    And, congratulations on your first book! I pray that God will bless you indeed and expand your borders!
    Amen!
    Melanie

Israel Duruji · 05/03/2021 at 6:03 PM

The WOG!
I truly thank God Almighty for using my painful experiences to lead me to discover this wonderful, personalized prayer of Jabez. It couldn’t have come at a better time. This is a lifesaver for me. It has brought peace of God to my life. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Thanks Melanie for being such a blessing to many. IJMN. Amen!!!

Bola Njoku · 05/02/2021 at 6:00 PM

Wonderful! It ministered unto my current situation. I know that God, the Creator has answered my prayers by blessing me beyond my request in Jesus name, ameeeeeeeeeen

Bola Njoku · 05/02/2021 at 5:57 PM

Wonderful!

Ro · 04/23/2021 at 12:36 PM

Thank you so much for this beautiful prayer.. I’m bookmarking this, so I can remember to pray so often.
You are blessed🙏🏻😇

Tyra · 04/17/2021 at 8:56 AM

This has blessed my spirit tremendously! I am making this prayer personal and praying it daily. God bless you always and forever!

Sandile Ndlovu · 02/03/2021 at 11:25 PM

God bless you indeed ❤

Kadija · 01/04/2021 at 9:34 AM

Thanks for sharing. Such an incredible prayer. I’m definitely blessed by this blog post today. Please stand with me as I declare this prayer over my life. God bless you richly, mighty woman of God.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 01/06/2021 at 1:32 PM

    Thank you for letting me know, Kadija.
    I appreciate your encouragement!
    Praying that God will bless you indeed!
    Blessings to you,
    Melanie

Susan George · 11/02/2020 at 9:17 PM

Wonderful, i am going to make this my daily prayer

Bongiwe · 11/02/2020 at 1:15 PM

Hi woman of God. I read the prayer and I was so filled spiritually. I felt that God is also seeing me down here in south Africa.
I need God more than ever. I cry every night because I a mom of four beautiful children yet i struggle to provide for them. After paying rent I struggle to put food on the table so I need God to enlarge my territory by giving me and my kids a place to call home and I promise that I will open it up to other children in need aswell. Thank u so much for the inspiration I really appreciate it more than u know. I might not read ur emails every day because of lack of data but I do when I get it. Stay blessed and continue to bless us with ur insight.

Melissa @myhillsandvalleys · 09/10/2020 at 12:19 PM

I’ve never read this prayer and I love it! Thank you!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 09/12/2020 at 11:10 AM

    It’s such a wonderful way to pray, Melissa!
    And, I hope you have a wonderful day.
    Thanks for stopping by to leave a good word!
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Fran · 08/01/2020 at 3:49 PM

Hello Melanie, I read the Prayer of Jabez when it first came out and prayed it for a couple weeks. A few years ago when I saw it again, I thought God has enlarged my territory in that I am able to freely talk and share with people. Before that I was bound by my lack of openness and transparency. I realized how God had indeed blessed me in a way I had never imagined. He enlarged my circle to include everyone I meet. What an awesome God.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 08/02/2020 at 2:31 PM

    Amen, Fran!
    Such a great prayer and a great testimony!
    And, we do serve an awesome God!
    Appreciate you stopping by to leave a good word.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Neia Lima · 07/27/2020 at 9:45 AM

Hello Melanie!
I love the prayer of Jabez and have prayed it since the first time I found it, but not this way, owhh it is beautiful!! I will make it my personal prayer.
Thank you for sharing ! May God bless you indeed!!
Neia Lima

    helloredds@gmail.com · 07/27/2020 at 9:55 AM

    Amen, Neia!
    It’s one of my favorites as well.
    So appreciate your kind words and encouragement.
    Praying that God will bless you indeed!
    Melanie

Jay Payleitner · 07/17/2020 at 2:42 PM

In this time of extremes, an alternate prayer might be — not for an enlarged territory — but for contentment and confidence that God will supply all our needs.

Remember the joy in discovering that obscure prayer from Jabez? There’s another prayer you’ve never heard of in Proverbs 30:7-9 that is all about living in God’s Sweet Spot. It’s the only prayer in all of Proverbs and it was written by another quirky biblical author you’ve never heard of.

The prayer of Agur goes like this, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”

A new book from Multnomah — publishers of The Prayer of Jabez two decades ago — unpacks The Prayer of Agur. It’s a welcome prayer of balance for our turbulent times. Even more than Jabez’s prayer, this prayer will lead you to see yourself as God’s workmanship and finally uncover your life purpose.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 07/24/2020 at 8:42 AM

    Hey Jay,
    Thanks so much for sharing this prayer!
    I’m going to check this book out!
    Sounds like a wonderful balance to Jabez!
    Appreciate your stopping by and sharing.
    Melanie

Edith Ng'ang'a · 08/13/2019 at 4:40 AM

Please pray with us that our newly launched business in Kenya,Little Oak Events & Caterers together with the three affiliated departments:International Volunteer Chefs, the International Culinary Arts Internship programmes and Christian Entertainment Events will be successful(Proverbs 16:3)

Edith Ng’ang’a
Operations Manager

    helloredds@gmail.com · 08/19/2019 at 9:23 AM

    Hey Edith,
    I will pray!
    This sounds like a wonderful new venture!
    I’m going to ask God to bless the work of your hands.
    Thanks so much for letting me know!
    Keep me posted on how things are going~
    Melanie

MR A Thomas · 06/18/2019 at 10:06 AM

I thank God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for revealing this powerful way of praying this verses and making them personal. God bless you and your ministry Amen.

Anissa Ferguson · 05/30/2019 at 7:59 AM

I found this to be sincerely helpful to me! It was exactly what I needed. I desperately wanted to effectively make this powerful prayer a (deeply) personal one. Thank you for sharing this with the world!!

    helloredds@gmail.com · 06/05/2019 at 3:00 PM

    Hey Anissa,
    Thanks for letting me know!
    I appreciate you and your encouraging words!
    May God bless you~
    Melanie

Merceline · 05/22/2019 at 8:05 PM

I have been blessed by the simple way you have put the prayer of jabez
may the lord bless you

John · 03/24/2019 at 10:57 PM

I have not connected before with the Prayer of Jabez in the way you’ve shared it in “making it personal.”
Thank you.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 03/28/2019 at 7:34 AM

    It’s a wonderful little prayer, John!
    I hope you will be blessed as you pray.
    And, you may want to pick up the Prayer of Jabez book by Bruce Wilkerson.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Maureen · 07/07/2018 at 12:32 PM

I love the Jabez prayer, but when I read your prayer, I was moved.
Thank you for sharing and may He enlarge your territory even more.

Blessings
Maureen

    helloredds@gmail.com · 07/07/2018 at 1:28 PM

    Thank you, Maureen!
    I’m so glad you were encouraged!
    Sure do appreciate you and your kind words.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

Annie · 06/19/2018 at 7:32 AM

Psalm 91 is one of my favorites.

Miriam · 09/23/2017 at 1:54 AM

I have read the book but I have been blessed by your prayer. Thank you for sharing.

    helloredds@gmail.com · 09/23/2017 at 8:37 AM

    Thank you, Miriam.
    I really appreciate your comment and your visit today.
    Praying God will bless you sweetly~
    Melanie

    helloredds@gmail.com · 09/23/2017 at 8:40 AM

    Hey Miriam
    So glad you stopped by for a visit, and I appreciate your kind words.
    I pray that God will bless you indeed and enlarge your borders.
    Blessings,
    Melanie

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