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Better Or Bitter
by Janie Buck
Topic: Trials
Date: 12.08.2004

There was a man who lived about 3000 years ago whose name is in the Bible. He prayed an unusual prayer that caused God to granted him what he requested. Wow! Let's take a look at this man! Maybe we can learn why the Lord answered his prayer.

His mother had such difficult labor bring him into the world, she named him Pain. Can you imagine while you were out playing with your friends your mother yelling, "Pain! Come here and put on your shoes!"

I bet little Pain got tired of his friends teasing him about his name. But it caused him to turn to the only One who can give relief from pain, the Almighty Lord.

The name Jabez is the Hebrew word for pain and that was his named in the Bible.

Maybe your life is filled with painful circumstances. Such things will force you to depend upon the Lord to make you a better person. (If you don't you will grow bitter) When hard times come remember Scripture that says, "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its works so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Trouble and temptation are given to keep us from wandering away form the faith. When everything is "just fine" we forget God. We are like a two-year-old who emphatically states, "Do it myself!"

I guess Jabez must have determined that he was not going to cause his mother pain by the way he lived. The Bible says, "Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers." And he prayed like this: "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." (I Chronicles 4:9-10)

I think God would be delighted if we lived honorable lives. Also if we prayed like Jabez, He would grant our request. He has answered that prayer for me.


Memory Verse: "Oh, that you would wonderfully bless me and help me in my work; please be with me in my work; please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all evil and disaster! And God granted him his request." (1 Chronicles 4:10 TLB)

Prayer: Father, I give thanks that you still answer prayer like Jabez's! Bless me and our family, and bless our President, and bless our troops who are in harm's way. Protect them and bring them home safely. And Lord, I pray you will bless everyone who reads these Daily Insights. Amen



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