If you could start all over would you do it all again?
Would you burn the midnight oil and rise again at five?
Fighting with your problems in order to survive?
Perhaps you will not benefit but others surely will.
And ultimately you will know the glory of the thrill,
Of seeing what has happened reflected in the eyes,
Of someone who’s succeeded and is so glad you were wise.
So think for just a moment about Jabez and his mum.Not the sort of woman you’d have under your thumb.
She had been delivered. Her labour was all done.
And in her arms was nestled a beautiful new son.
She called the baby Jabez because her labour pain
Had brought her baby to her. It wasn’t all in vain.
And as he grew to manhood, he turned to God and cried,
“Lord God of our nation, extend my borders wide
Lord I seek Your blessing! Lord, keep me from all harm.
Lead me with your strong right hand. Give me Your healing balm.
Lord God in Your wisdom drive suffering away,
That I might have a pain free life each morning every day.”
The Lord Most High was listening. He heard his heartfelt plea.
And in His Holy Wisdom, He said, “So let it be”!
Consider for a moment this well known Jabez prayer.
Did God make it happen because he had a flair
For deeper intercession? Let’s not go down that route.
God doesn’t give us reasons. That would be far too cute!
He tells us, “Think about it, The answer’s not concealed.
Keep on asking for it and all will be revealed.”
Take your eyes off Jabez. Seek, you’ll surely find.
Think about his mother and what was on her mind.
An honourable woman who took the time to plead,
She brought her son before Me, without a hint of greed.
She was a faithful servant. Her blessings were transferred,Down many generations according to My Word”.
It wasn’t only Jabez whom God was honouring.
His mother and the women who do the righteous thing,
And come in intercession. It’s also their reward,
For all their many hours of devotion to the Lord.
The many midnight hours of prayer; of getting up at five,
To intercede for children who’d only just arrived!
They mustn’t be forgotten, passed over or ignored.
It’s time that they are recognised, not only by the Lord,
But also by their fathers, their husbands and their sons,
For what they’ve contributed and all that they have done
Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 26 June 2011
