Topic: A Desperate Prayer [DCLM Daily Manna 9 April 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: 1 Chronicles 4:1-10 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:10).
MESSAGE:
A story is told in Chinua Achebe’s Things fall Apart of a young man called Okonkwo whose father Unoka was a pauper and a loafer. Unoka’s own father was also poor. Okonkwo realising this, decided to have a mindset that he would not live a life of failure like his father Unoka. That made Okonkwo to constantly beat Nwoye his son when he saw the traits of laziness in him, the trait he felt his son had inherited from Unoka. This singular mindset and corresponding actions of Okonkwo eventually made him to become a hero, a success and a pillar to reckon with in his village.
Today’s passage deals with an account of Judah, the most famous of all the tribes of Israel, while a most remarkable person in the text was Jabez because of his prayer life. His name, Jabez means sorrow because he was born in sorrow. Not satisfied with his despicable fate of misery, he decided to turn to God to change his fortune. Eventually God made him to be more honourable than all his brethren. The way to be truly honourable and great is to seek God’s face in fervent prayer and follow it up with diligent work.
We should not be satisfied with our present condition; God can still make it better, if only we can pray. God’s hand was with Jabez to deliver him from the evil of sin, trouble and the evil designed by his enemies. He is not a respecter of persons. As He granted Jabez’s request, He will hear our own prayers. He can heal, deliver, provide, protect, promote and turn our situations around for better, if only we can pray.
Thought For The Day: God still answers the prayers of desperate people.
The Bible In One Year: Acts 3-4
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
