Daily Devotions
The Prayer of Jabez
Reading for May 1st: 1 Chronicles 3-5
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me..."
1 Chronicles 4:10
One of the reasons why pride is a difficult vice for us is it is difficult to detect. It comes in many disguises. It even disguises itself as humility.
For example, we might turn down an opportunity to teach a class because we feel inadequate. While that could be humility it is not necessarily so. It might be fear. It might be a selfish desire to guard against failure.
A truly humble person doesn't think about self. That gives him the freedom to try things when he knows he might fail and look bad. As I've heard Tom Holley say, you can't humiliate an humble man. An humble man is unafraid. An humble man prays for opportunities to be used and to serve without the fear of failure.
What is your prayer today? Are you asking God to enlarge your border or are you praying you'll not be asked to do anything? Do you hope to stay in your comfort zone and play it safe?
Be wary of a prideful spirit that keeps you stuck in first gear.
Father, we pray that you will enlarge our borders, and that your hand might be with us. Glorify your name!
