Jabez's Prayer

1 Chron. 4:10 - And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that You would richly bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand would be with me, and that You would so keep me from evil that it would not grieve me! And God caused what he had requested to come to pass. 

Note on "Enlarge" from the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible. The enlarging of the border of the good land in the prayer of Jabez signifies the enlarging of the border of the gaining of Christ and the enjoyment of Christ (cf. Phil. 3:8-14), who is the reality of the good land (see note 71 in Deut. 8). We all should have such a prayer, a prayer that God would enlarge the border of our enjoyment of Christ (cf. Eph. 3:14-19). 

This is the expressed word of the Lord for me specifically these days. What I need at the moment is that the Lord would bless me richly. I have, time and again, come to conclusion that without the Lord's blessing, all that I am and have and can do are all vanity of vanity. 

With new changes coming up in my housing and official matters, I need the Lord to be the blessing. As I and my wife consider to shift our house as the office may shift too, we have many considerations. I practically have started looking out for new venue. Still there is no definite decision as to where to move, what kind of building etc. What is becoming clear so far is that we might have to relocate. When, where and how, are still questions to be answered. In the midst of all these, I can only pray and fellowship with my fellow members. And that is exactly what I have been doing. 

Enlarge my border, Lord! Spiritually, in the experiences of Christ I need to be enlarged, and physically too, I need my borders to be enlarged. It's about a decade now that I am in this city, Gurgaon. And I don't know how long I will continue to be here. If the Lord wills that my family continues to be in this city, I pray that my border be enlarged, in the sense of having our own premise and housing. Indeed, a practical enlargement is to have our own premises for office and private residence. Yet not my will but God's will be done. And this is my prayer these as the need is increasing by the year, as much as the rent in the city is increasing.

My main concern is for the operation of the literature service. All these years we have been in a rented premise. As long as the Lord wishes us to be this way, I simply say amen. From the point of view of being a serving one and considering for the long run, I personally feel it is time to have our own land and building, if only the Lord so wills. Besides, if the Lord would continue to keep me in the literature service and serve in this city Gurgaon, its better to consider having our own housing sooner than later. The only source of provision is the Lord's supply. This is what I have also fellowshipped with my wife. Nevertheless, not my will but the Lord's will be done, even in this regard.

Jabez's prayer has become my prayer: Lord, enlarge my border, richly bless me, may Your hand be upon me and keep me from evil!