The Prayer of Jabez:  Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
Even well-versed Biblical scholars might be perplexed if asked about Jabez, a little-known man listed in 1 Chronicles, chapter 4. Yet his simple petition is the cornerstone ofThe Prayer of Jabezand has become a call      to live a more "blessed life" for countless readers.The prayer is a simple one: "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."In an era where many Christians shy away from anything that smacks of "name it and claim it," author Bruce      Wilkinson alleviates misgivings by putting the prayer into perspective. Wilkinson, founder and president of Walk      thru the Bible Ministries and a popular speaker for Promise Keepers, writes in a persuasive, conversational style      that will woo even the most cynical reader. He has used the Jabez prayer for more than 30 years, and testifies enthusiastically to the changes it has wrought in his own life. Wilkinson challenges readers to      recite the Jabez prayer every morning and keep a record of the changes that occur. The power, he emphasizes, is      not in the prayer itself, but "rather, the power is in what you believe will happen as a result of the prayer, and      the action you take." Wilkinson makes a convincing case. --Cindy Crosby