(compiled by Bill Stevenson-- May 31, 2001 & updated on October 8, 2017)
Note: Quotations are from the book “The Prayer of Jabez” by Bruce Wilkinson.
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed”-- Oh compassionate, generous God please bless the church I attend with Your wonderful, unlimited goodness that only You have the power to know about or give to it. Of course it is up to You to decide what the blessing will be, and where, when, and how my church will receive. I trust You completely, wanting nothing more and nothing less than what You want to give it. I seek Your blessings as the ultimate value in life because I just want to say and do what You want. I am so thankful for all of the past blessings from You. My life is Your’s and I want it to bring more glory to You on Earth.
“and enlarge my territory”-- God Almighty, enlarge my life so that I can make a greater impact for You. “O God and King, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way that I touch more lives for Your glory. Let me do more for You!” I want to live out my faith much much more for others, especially the people I attend church with. I want You to give me “divine appointments” for doing the good works that You already have planned for me to do, ministering to those in need of spiritual encouragement, counsel, or/and exhortation. I trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and Your divine strength and wisdom. With Your love, eliminate all fears that come into my mind in these new experiences and give me Your courage. I will praise You for the miracles that happen during and after my ministry opportunities.
“that Your hand would be with me”-- God, I need You so much in order to live for You more and more. Please release Your power to accomplish Your will, so that You will be glorified through seeming impossibilities of future ministries for me to do. Sustain and continue the great things that You have begun in my life. “Father, please do this in me because I can’t do it alone. It’s too big for me!” I will step out in faith with supernatural enthusiasm, boldness, and power to do and say whatever the Holy Spirit tells me. I want to depend completely on You, Abba Father.
“and that You would keep me from evil.”-- God, the great Protector, I ask for safe-keeping from evil for me and the other church members. Because I easily trust others, especially those who seem friendly and respectful, I am easily taken advantage of or mislead. I only want to say and do what pleases You and learn/remember only eternal truths. Adam and Eve and many other believers in You in the Bible were deceived about eternal truths and I have been too many times, so help me via the Holy Spirit, the Bible, true Christian friends, and Your angels if necessary to keep me on the narrow road of righteousness to Heaven. “Lord, keep me from making the mistakes I’m most prone to when temptation comes. I confess that what I think is necessary, smart, or personally beneficial is so often only the beautiful wrapping on sin. So please, keep evil far from me!” “Lord, keep me safe from the pain and grief that sin brings. For the dangers that I can’t see, or the ones that I think I can risk because of my experience (pride and carelessness), put up a supernatural barrier. Protect me, Father, by Your power!” “Lord, keep me safe from temptations that pull at my emotions and my physical needs, that call out to my sense of what I deserve, what I have the ‘right’ to feel and enjoy. Because You are the true source of all that is really life, direct my steps away from all that is not of You.” Finally, God, I know that You can’t protect me and the other church members completely from the wiles of the spiritual and human enemies, so please help me put on the Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual armor by reminding me via the Holy Spirit of Your Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel, Faith, Salvation, and Your other promises. Thank You for future blessings and Great Commission assignments.
