<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>expand my territory Archives - Warrior Raiser</title> <atom:link href="https://warriorraiser.com/tag/expand-my-territory/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://warriorraiser.com/tag/expand-my-territory/</link> <description>Courageously Pursue Your Calling</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:01:59 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://warriorraiser.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/W-R-150x150.png</url> <title>expand my territory Archives - Warrior Raiser</title> <link>https://warriorraiser.com/tag/expand-my-territory/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Pray like Jabez</title> <link>https://warriorraiser.com/2020/09/21/pray-like-jabez/</link> <comments>https://warriorraiser.com/2020/09/21/pray-like-jabez/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Angela Johnson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:01:59 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Warrior Lessons]]></category> <category><![CDATA[bold prayer]]></category> <category><![CDATA[expand my territory]]></category> <category><![CDATA[honor God]]></category> <category><![CDATA[pray like jabez]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://warriorraiser.com/?p=602</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Through this man's one-sentence prayer, we learn that a life begun in sorrow can end with abundance. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://warriorraiser.com/2020/09/21/pray-like-jabez/">Pray like Jabez</a> appeared first on <a href="https://warriorraiser.com">Warrior Raiser</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p>“<span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. </span></p><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.</span>“</p><cite>1 Chronicles 4:9-10, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p>Two verses. That’s all that is mentioned of this man named Jabez.</p><p>It is, however, poignant that Scripture even mentions his name. We can often find purpose and revelation in the use of the specific name. When you discover the etymology, or the origin of a word and the development of its meaning, you can ultimately gain a profound understanding.</p><p><strong>Jabez</strong> (<strong>יַעְבֵּץ</strong>; yah·bats’) means “<strong>sorrow</strong>” and comes from the root, “<strong>to grieve</strong>“. <sup><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3258&t=KJV">1</a></sup></p><p>If you are a parent, I am certain you gave considerable thought to the naming of your child. My husband and I definitely did. When our first son was born, we settled on “Elliott”. It is my husband’s middle name, but more importantly, it means: <em>“The Lord is our God”</em>. Keeping with the alliteration theme, we named our second son “Elias”, which also means: <em>“The Lord is our God”</em>. And finally, when we had our daughter, “Eleanor” was an obvious choice because it was a name found on both sides of our family tree. But what’s even more beautiful, is her name means: <em>“shining light”</em>. Every time we call one of our boys we are essentially saying, “The Lord is our God”! And when I say my daughter’s name, I am calling her <em>“shining light</em>“! </p><p>So, when I read that Jabez was given a name that would be a constant reminder of pain, grief, and sorrow — I pause and consider the heaviness of his identity.</p><p><strong>Even though</strong> <strong>His life began in pain and sorrow he did not let it define him.</strong></p><p>I know many of you had horrible beginnings. Your past has left you scarred and wounded. Whether you carry the guilt and shame of things <em>you’ve</em> <em>done</em> or of things <em>done to you</em>, please know that God can redeem you and remove the weight of the burden you carry.</p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">“<em>I have swept away your sins like a cloud.<br /> I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.<br />Oh, return to me,<br /> for I have paid the price to set you free.”</em></span></p><cite>Isaiah 44:22, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p>His Word is full of His redemptive promises. Like any free gift, we just have to receive it for it to belong to us. </p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. <sup>2 </sup>When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”</span></p><cite>isaiah 43:1-2, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p>God is a refuge for the hurting and hopeless. He is the solid ground to the sinking sand of the world around us. No matter what’s happened to us, He can redeem us. Where we feel inadequate and unworthy, His love is complete and is all we need to be made healthy and whole. No matter the regretful choices we’ve made or shame we may carry with us — God can restore each and every one of us — we just have to give Him <strong>permission</strong>.</p><p>Jesus’ death on the cross made the way to bring us eternal salvation. All it takes is faith; Faith to believe that God’s Word is true and that He gave His only Son (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A16&version=NLT">John 3:16</a>) so that you and I can be freed from the burden of our past and look forward with hopeful expectation to an eternal future.</p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”</span></p><cite>ephesians 1:7, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p>Ebbs and flows…dips and dives…highs and lows…that’s what this adventure of life is. No matter where you are in this journey, the moment you surrender and say ,<em> “Lord, I can’t do this on my own. I am in need of being rescued. I need a Savior,</em>” you begin the process of <strong>transformation</strong>.</p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”</span></p><cite>acts 3:19, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p>Scripture doesn’t mention this man, Jabez, any other time. But it was said of him that he was “<em>more honorable than any of his brothers</em>“. I don’t know what that means, specifically, but it implies that he was likely living a life that honored the Lord. </p><p><strong>What does a God-honoring life look like? </strong></p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color"> “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. </span></p><p><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.”</span></p><cite>Galatians 5:19-23, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p><strong>A God-honoring life</strong> allows the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, decisions, and motivations. <strong> A God-honoring life </strong>is infused with the fruit of the Spirit. </p><p>No matter how hard we try to fix ourselves or change our own behavior, we will constantly fail because we are engaged in a perpetual inner battle — warring against our sinful nature . That is why we need to ask the Holy Spirit to bring forth and reproduce this collective fruit in, and through, us.</p><figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote><p><span style="color:#687a71;" class="has-inline-color">“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”</span></p><cite>galatians 5:22-23, NLT</cite></blockquote></figure><p><strong>Left to our own free will, we will take the path of least resistance. </strong></p><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">LOVE</span></strong> someone that looks, thinks, acts, and believes differently than you do?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to be <span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color"><strong>JOYFUL</strong></span> in the midst of a terminal diagnosis, job loss, or failing marriage?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to pursue <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">PEACE</span></strong> in a relationship when you have been wronged?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to be <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">PATIENT</span></strong> when you’ve been on hold for 5 minutes, the doctor took a bit too long coming to see you, or the server got your order wrong?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to be <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">KIND</span></strong> to someone who has been hateful to you and said nasty things to your face or behind your back? </li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants </em>to be happy and feel <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">GOOD</span></strong> about <em>their</em> life when they see everyone else on Facebook seemingly have it all?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to be <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">GENTLE</span></strong> when your kids are driving you crazy or someone throws a snarky comment your way?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to remain <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">FAITHFUL</span></strong> when you still haven’t seen the evidence of your obedience?</li></ul><ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Who <em>wants</em> to opt for delayed gratification and <strong><span style="color:#687a61;" class="has-inline-color">SELF-CONTROL</span> </strong>when there are so many options to satiate you?</li></ul><p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">NO</span> <span style="text-decoration:underline;">ONE</span></strong> does. That’s because it goes against every fiber of our being.</p><p>Once we have the revelation that we cannot do this life apart from the will of the Father, it takes <strong>submission</strong> to the process of being changed.</p><p>For Jabez, this truth must have been revealed because the Scripture says, <em>“He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel…And God granted him his request.”</em></p><p><strong>He prayed a one-sentence prayer.</strong></p><p>We don’t have to pray some lofty prayer full of “thees, and thous”. We can talk to God like our He’s our Father — because He is. </p><p>The Bible tells us that we have permission to <strong>boldly come before</strong> the Creator of the Universe and <strong>ask</strong> Him to share His desire for our lives (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A16&version=NLT">Hebrews 4:16</a>). When we do ask Him, He will never resent our asking (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A5&version=NLT">James 1:5</a>). And what’s even better…He will answer us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+14%3A14&version=NLT">John 14:14</a>)! But the prerequisite for answered prayer is to be living in the center of His will for our lives. There we are safe, we are equipped, and we are prepared to move forward and begin the work He has called us to do. </p><p><strong>Jabez had total dependence on God. </strong> He made his request known and asked a bold prayer: <em>“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!”</em></p><p>He knew that only the Lord could protect him from the inevitable pain and sorrow of this sin-filled world.</p><p><strong>In just two verses, we read that a life begun in sorrow ended with abundance.</strong></p><p>God granted his request because God favors those who ask. Jabez was able to conquer new territory with divine consent. </p><p><strong>Ultimately, he <span style="text-decoration:underline;">wasn’t</span> remembered for what he did…He <span style="text-decoration:underline;">was</span> remembered for HOW and WHAT he PRAYED!</strong></p><p><strong>How and What are <span style="text-decoration:underline;">YOU</span> praying for?</strong></p><p>As long as you are living your life seeking God first (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+6%3A33&version=NLT">Matthew 6:33</a>) and your obedience to the Heavenly Father overflows out of a heart that loves Him — He will honor your requests. Remember, He’s not a “genie in a bottle” where we can come to Him only when we need something from Him. This relationship (not religion) is built on <strong>reciprocity</strong>. We <strong>draw near to Him</strong>, and <strong>He draws near to u</strong>s (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JAMES+4%3A8&version=NLT">James 4:8</a>). <strong>We abide</strong> or remain connected to (and in) Him, and <strong>He will abide </strong>or remain connected to (and in) us (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2015&version=NLT">John 15</a>)</p><p><strong>Now, I’d like <span style="text-decoration:underline;">YOU</span> to pray like Jabez. </strong></p><p><strong>Write out the two verses — but this time, make it personal</strong>!</p><blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"><p><em>“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!”</em> Amen!</p><p></p></blockquote><p></p><h5 class="wp-block-heading">GRACE & PEACE, </h5><div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://warriorraiser.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/signature.png?w=600" alt="" class="wp-image-475" width="315" height="158" /></figure></div><p>The post <a href="https://warriorraiser.com/2020/09/21/pray-like-jabez/">Pray like Jabez</a> appeared first on <a href="https://warriorraiser.com">Warrior Raiser</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://warriorraiser.com/2020/09/21/pray-like-jabez/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>8</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>