There are three specific ways Jabez prayed that God would bless him: 1) ‘Enlarge my territory.’  He had a dream of owning more land, and he asked God to bless that dream. When we stop dreaming we lose direction. When we stop setting goals we stop growing. It’s always good to have something we’re pushing towards. We have to remember that not all our dreams will be blessed by God. He knows what’s best for us, but the more time we spend with God the more our hearts and dreams become aligned with His. 2) ‘That Your hand would be with me.’ God’s hand represents His power. Jabez realized that if he got more territory it meant he would have more responsibility. He would have greater demands and more pressure, and he would really need God’s help in his life. So he requested God to be with him. God always promises to be with us. 3) ‘That You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.’ Jabez asked God for His protection. In those days, the more land someone owned, the more influence they had, and the better known they were, the bigger a target they were. It’s the same today. The more successful we are, the more critics we have. The closer we get to God and the stronger we become as Christians, the more the Devil tries to trip us up because he doesn’t want us to grow and advance God’s kingdom. But with God’s protection we don’t have to fear anyone or anything. ‘“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name”’ (Psalm 91:14 NIV).

What Now?

If you’re feeling like you’re being attacked the closer you get to God, have a read of Ephesians 6 and then ask God to protect you.