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The Christian Bipole

The Christian's Mental Health: the Prayer of Jabez, Take 2

In case you ever wondered, yes, prayer can and should be a key "skill" for those (like me!) who wrestle with mental/emotional disorders of any kind. I've spoken before about the "prayer of Jabez," but it is certainly worthy of additional consideration. If this interests you, please read on...


The prayer of Jabez is found amidst some pretty boring genealogies in 1st Chronicles 4. It tells us very little about who Jabez was other than to say, "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.'" (verse 9) There is no indication what her pain may have been (childbirth perhaps), but the next verse (10) is insightful. "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!' (NKJV)


Here's how I pray these 5 petitions as I do battle with my mental-emotional issues:


First, I pray that God would bless me indeed. Like Jacob, I tell God that I will not let go of Him "unless you bless me." (Genesis 32:26) I pray this at the start of every day.


Second, I ask Him to enlarge my territory. By this I mean that I want my life to expand rather than to contract. If you are like me, the world shrinks (or rather I do) when I am down or depressed. So please, God, I pray, enlarge my territory today!


Third, I ask for His special presence, that precious "with-ness." I invoke Immanuel (God with us) every day. I remind myself that Christ is within me, even in the midst of my mental-emotional cycling. May His hand be with me!


Fourth, I ask that God would keep me from evil. By this, I mean the evil that can attend my overly "up" times or my overly "down times." The Lord's prayer intones, "lead (me) not into temptation, but deliver (me) from evil." Again, I pray this every day.


Finally, there is the collateral damage I often cause others by my mood swings and irrational behaviors. I especially pray that these not cause pain to my care giver (bless her heart) and support team (my family and friends). Since pain is what Jabez's name means, I pray, "Lord, may I not be a Jabez today." Again, I pray this every day.


So there you have it--the prayer of Jabez. May our God richly bless you.


Blessings indeed!

The Christian Bipole

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