The founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Bruce H. Wilkinson, has become hooked on a little prayer tucked away in the first book of Chronicles.
The prayer was made by a man called Jabez. His name means pain, and he was given the name because he gave his mother a lot of pain in the process of being born. And, having been saddled with the name, its meaning seems to have preyed on his mind somewhat. So, even though his prayer is basically for more territory to live in, Jabez wants to acquire and enjoy it without incurring personal pain. Who wouldn't?
We know nothing more about Jabez than is recorded in 1 Chronicles 4.9,10. And yet this short prayer from an obscure Old Testament figure - who wanted extra territory without pain - is deemed to be the all-important prayer for Christians to pray today.
