Author: Dr Glen

Have you put God in a box?

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” ¹⁰ And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” (NKJV)

Many times, when we pray, we put God in a box by what we ask for in prayer. When we take a look at the prayer of Jabez, one of the first things we notice is that Jaybez did not put a limit on what he was asking God for. Jaybez asked God to enlarge his territory, but did not ask for a specific amount. “And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory”.  This kind of praying will take the limits off of what God can do for us.

Our thought life can have an effect on our prayer life. If we think small or continue to have small thoughts, then we will continue to pray small prayers.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (NKJV)  

Instead of praying and asking God for a new car, we can pray and ask God for a car dealership. This way when the prayer is answered, we not only receive a blessing for ourselves, but will be in a position to bless others also. We have enlarged our territory and have not put God “in a box”.

This kind of praying will require faith and believing, without having any doubt.

Matthew 21:21-22  “ So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. ²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (NKJV)

We serve a God that has no limits; He is bigger than big and larger than large. God can do anything but fail. So when we come to him asking, we must believe that He hears and will answer our prayer.

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. (NKJV)

Jabez also reached out to God for guidance in receiving the enlarged territory. Receiving “enlarged territory” comes with having “enlarged responsibilities”, and a person has to be very careful with what God has blessed them with. Jabez wanted to be sure that he was being led by God in making the right decisions “that Your hand would be with me”, and also not to become greedy or hurt others with the blessing he received “and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”  God heard the petition from Jabez and granted everything that was asked for “So God granted him what he requested.”

The prayer of Jabez is a powerful example of the kind of prayer that not only will take the limits off of God, but also will not put “God in a box”.

God I thank you for not being a God of limits. From this day forward, let the prayers of the righteous be without limits, and outside of the box. In Jesus name…Amen

Continuing in His service…Rev

Strength in the struggle

1st John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (NKJV)

Butterflies go through a four-stage cycle before becoming an actual butterfly. These four stages are, the egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and finally the Imago stage (the actual butterfly itself). In each of these stages, there can be a struggle not only to get to the next stage, but to also avoid outside threats in order to continue to exist.

Some of these threats include, bacterial, viral, fungal infections, predators and crop spraying by local farmers. Only a small percentage of butterfly eggs ever reach adulthood.

One of the main reasons some of the butterflies make it to the (Imago) adult stage, is because of the strength they gained in struggles in their previous stages.

In our daily walk as Christians, there can be different struggles that we will experience to hinder us from growth and from getting to our next stage.

If we look at struggles as an opportunity to gain strength and become stronger, we can use struggles to make it to our next stage in our Christian growth.

1st Peter 2:2 “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”(NKJV)

What a Christian feeds upon, will also help with gaining and determining how much strength is obtained in the struggle.

As a Christian grows and gains strength in their struggle, their desire will change from “milk” to “meat.” The “milk” of the word will only sustain growth to a certain level. If a Christian wants to continue to grow and gain the strength that is needed for the next level of struggle, they will have to have the “meat” of the word.

Hebrews 5:13-14 ” For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. Vs. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age that is, those who by reason of use of their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” (NKJV)

The butterfly has set a powerful example for Christians to follow. In spite of any hardships or struggles that are encountered in its stages of growth, the butterfly uses struggles to strengthen itself to obtain mature adulthood.

Continue to be encouraged when you encounter struggles and believe that there is “strength in the struggle.”

Lord Jesus thank you for the strength that is gained in struggles, in Jesus name. Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev