Nestled into an Old Testament book that rarely gets much attention is a short prayer from a guy named Jabez. We don't know much about him, but we do know that God liked his prayer. Check it out below:

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, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked. (1 Chronicles 4:10, ESV)

So what does he ask for?

1. He asks God to bless him. Seems kind of selfish, right? But since our God is a God who longs to bless, Jabez issues a simple yet powerful request that resonates with the heart of a loving Father.
2. He asks God to enlarge his border. Hmm...selfish again, right? Well, I think the key here is motivation. Jabez is not asking God to make him great - He is asking God to make His own name great by expanding the influence Jabez has.
3. He asks for God's hand to be with him. This is proof positive that Jabez is not into power or selfish gain. He doesn't want the blessings of power and influence without the hand of God there to guide him.
4. He asks for God to keep him from harm and subsequent pain. Jabez understands how easy it is to become consumed with worldly things, so he asks God to keep him safe from such desires. You see, he is not just seeking physical protection - He is asking for spiritual protection as well.

And God granted what he asked. May we be like Jabez today, lifting up simple but bold prayers to our God who is able to answer in abundance.