I’ve been loving a prayer tucked in an obscure book in the Bible, – known as the prayer of Jabez. A few weeks ago, as I read this prayer in Chronicles (1^st Chronicles 4:9–10), it stirred my thought, focused my own prayer, and gave me further direction for my work.

There has been music written about this prayer, – (check iTunes.) There’ve been books written about it, and people have researched the significance of it. I’d love to just send you to one small book that so eloquently opens up this very sincere desire to have a life that is broad, filled with contribution, and satisfaction — all based on prayer. In this book, The Prayer of Jabez,* Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explains that this remarkable prayer has touched the lives of so many who have prayed with it. And he suggests that individuals pray it each day for breakthroughs in their lives.

This prayer reminds us of the humility that it takes to be effective in our work, whatever that work may be.  It reminds us that we are not the source of our good or our blessings.  It speaks to our willingness to serve, and the results that come from a willing heart.

Let me post it here for you to consider as I’ve been considering it. See if, perhaps, it doesn’t inspire you as it has inspired me.

The Jabez Prayer

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.

I love the sense of the possible, the confidence and expectancy of good, and the recognition that we can, through our prayer and our work, make a great difference in the lives of those close to us, perhaps even those we don’t even know.

So I’m suggesting that we may find wonderful inspiration as we consider each part of this prayer, these sincere, earnest focuses of our thought:

That You would bless me. In order to bless others, we might feel impelled to ask for blessing, asking perhaps for a greater understanding of God and God’s goodness and provision for each and all. (How important it is that we first recognize fully the blessings we already have. In doing this, we are acknowledging so many blessings already provided.)

That You would enlarge my territory. That I may find new ways to bless, to help – one by one, conversation by conversation, on a plane, in line at a mall, at home, in our relationships with our friends and family. How can I help? How can I serve? How can I open my love and care to others in new fresh ways? Keep me close to your purpose for me, Father.

That Your hand would be with me. This is not something that we do alone, because the prayer includes the confidence that the intelligence of divine Mind, and the presence of divine Love’s guidance and care are present and active in all we do and are. Therefore, there is no false ego and no false responsibility.

And that You, Father, would keep me from evil. We can go right to that point. Not that we stand within evil, trying to get away from it. But that we, and those we love and care for, including each and every individual and all mankind, be kept from evil, from danger, from wrong desires, from wrong relationships, from materialism, from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Don’t be afraid to pray to be kept from evil by understanding its unreality, its impotence, and that it is not the reality of God’s government for His all-good creation.

And finally what I have considered to be an important point: the word “Jabez” means  “pain” in Hebrew. Literally it could read “He causes (or will cause) pain.” The prayer ends, then, with the final request that “I may not cause pain.” And Scripture records that God granted the request.

This prayer touched me as it has touched thousands of others – for its purity, sincerity, possibilities, its humility, its forthright relationship of God and man, and its trust in the effectiveness of prayer and its result.

So as I treasure this prayer each day now, I am finding that my heart is even more open to being willing to bless, to help, to heal as my hand is in the Father’s, not doing it of myself but being blessed by the Father; then able and willing to bless others. I recommend this to you with great love.

Pam

*The Prayer of Jabez by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson is published by Multnomah Books, 2000.

After arriving home very late Sunday night we went to bed. I awoke a few hours later and my hand was swollen and still painful. I got out of bed and went to the computer and printed out the Bible Lesson for the week. The title was “God the Only Cause and Creator.” That was just what I needed. It is amazing how those Lessons always have a solution or promise for what is needed. I went right to work with that Lesson. I first realized that I needed to get out of the trap. Then the thought came that God is not going to take me to a warm and loving family reunion where every thing was harmonious and good and then let it be spoiled with some painful condition.  I realized that all of those causes that I tried to tack on were, in reality, erroneous and lies, and did not apply to me. As was brought out in the Lesson, there is only one real cause- God- and this cause has no place for any pain or discomfort. I reasoned that I was reflecting only what God knows- the good cause and I could be free of the pain. In a short time the swelling and pain left and I was able to go about my normal activities. I am grateful for this lesson and the Weekly Bible Lessons.*

Frank

*The Weekly Bible Lessons referred to are from The Christian Science Quarterly and are available from The Christian Science Publishing Society, or ChristianScience.com. These Bible Lessons are read in all Christian Science Churches throughout the world, as the basis for the church service.

How poignant is that intro.  I am reminded that God’s Love is absolutely unconditional. Yet the “blessings” we experience, or become aware of in our everyday life and affairs, are conditional, aren’t they? In order to recognize and accept and really feel blessed, this requires our “obedience,” our alignment of our thoughts, motives and acts, if you will, with Love and our desire to do good.

Some of our elders used to say, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” As a metaphysician, a practitioner of the Science of Life, I equate that to mean that the “mortal” believes, or wants to believe, that he can completely or partially ignore spiritual laws (doesn’t want to practice that unselfed love, for example) and yet inherit the bounty of the joy of life that we are designed to experience.

At the same time, I realize that whatever befalls us, and in the midst of our trials, the sweetness and the blessing of this great promise and our obedience, our alignment with Principle, with what is right, supports us and enables us to carry on “unbroken” and in the complete confidence that we dwell in the harmony of God.

I am grateful to Christian Science; to its Founder: and for all who desire to practice and continually put their best foot forward, in the footsteps of Christ Jesus, toward the mark.

Blessings to you all for a most prosperous, spiritually aligned, and joyful year, as it is your divine birthright.

Love, Rhonda

I thought of a recent Wednesday night testimony about a healing in church that occurred when the individual remembered that the Christian Science service is for the healing of the congregation.  And I remembered a recent reading about Hagar thinking her baby was dying of thirst, when God showed Hagar what was already there, – a life-preserving well.  I also remembered all the supply healings I have had and told myself to expect an answer and to quit fretting.

When I came time for the collection, I opened my wallet and, lo and behold, there was $63 in there.  Exactly what I needed.  My supply was changed from insufficient to sufficient. It was my own small loaves and fishes moment. I saw what was really there all along, but which had been invisible to me, adequate supply.

Needless to say, the next day, despite some obstacles that were removed or doors that were shut, I made the best possible use of the check I had received earlier than expected. I was even able to help a family member satisfy an obligation.  What blesses one blesses all!

“Stillness”

What does it mean?

Is it possible to be still?

Does being still have value to us today?

What is it? Where do we find it? How do we find it?

Throughout the Bible that we love, men and women understood and exemplified stillness, and spiritual knowing. (To be still means a quiet; hush; calm; peace, quietude, serenity, the ability to be receptive.)

What effect did this spiritual demeanor have on their lives? What was the result on their family, their relationships, their purpose, their country? (Or, were they not quiet of thought, what effect did this have?)

As I write this late at night, a storm blusters outside my window, wind and water mingling, producing noise and a disturbance of unusual force.

My prayer is that right here, right now, where the storm appears to be, right here in my thought is peace. My spiritual sense assures me that all of God’s perfect creation, every detail, is safe, hid with Christ in God. The peace, the stillness I feel brings me a sense of calm and safety. The storm in me is replace with quiet trust in divine Mind’s ability to care for Its own. It has become quiet outside. I am grateful.

Did not Jesus still the storm by bringing his disciples into his peace? Can we do this? Absolutely.

How? Refuse to be agitated, blustery, inflamed, or afraid. Refuse to react.Choose peace.

Establish as your thought the very present presence of divine Mind.

Be still and hear . . .

Be still and listen . . .

Be still and see . . .

Be still and understand . . .

Be still and know that you are one with God.

Divine Mind speaks most clearly when the humble heart is ready to hear.

Join me in embodying peace, quietude, pure spiritual sense. Get still. Trust. Be deeply consecrated to your work as a Christian Scientist, with all that means to you, for the world. Bring to every circumstance your peace, your spiritual centeredness, your calm trust in the ever-present presence of God, good.

Some weeks I have had friends stop by and talk to me about what they know of Science and discuss the ideas.  This morning a lady from the East Coast came and was hoping to find the service.  We chatted for a while and then I asked her if she would like to read something from Science and Health together.  She seemed so happy to have found someone there and we both enjoyed reading the book and applying the ideas to our current experiences – moving our thought from the physical and mortal realm and raising it to Spirit and Truth.

I am reminded from our Christian Science Class Association that my life is my Practice, and I was so grateful to find Love waiting patiently for myself and my friend from the East Coast outside our church this morning.

We have become very clear that we are in the Practice of Christian Science.  We are not simply working to solve our own challenges. Our work, which is so good and profound, is far reaching, and very, very needed for the world.

Mary Baker Eddy knew the power and effectiveness of this discovery of the Science of Christianity. She knew that as its workers are faithful to their own spiritual progress and to their great love for God and for others, they bless and heal the world. Do you think the world needs this work?  Do you feel the Science of Christianity can uplift, heal, regenerate, reform?  Each and every time one individual is healed, regenerated, reformed, it blesses the world in which we live. Never underestimate the power and presence of the Truth we love and live.

As healers through the study of this Science, I would like to post, (and to have you post) your treatments, prayers, inspiration, and fruits (healings of every name and nature).  Let’s not keep our work to ourselves. Let’s realize and be willing to share and to heal. Are you all up for that?? The answer, I know, is yes!

Frank Wheeler

“The servants filled the vessels and took the wine to the master of the marriage feast. …[Jesus] did what no one else could do.”  From The Berean

What an arresting thought! How often do we find ourselves doing what is not ours to do?  Taking on assignments for someone else.  Carrying out someone else’s responsibilities. Worrying over something that is not ours to worry about, -and then wondering why we are worn out, or over extended, when we fall into bed at night.

Have you considered asking yourself, “What is mine to do?”  And then, just do that!

Jesus “did what no one else could do.” What you contribute is most effective when you know who you are and why you are.  Do you understand your uniqueness, your role in any situation? In other words, what do you have to contribute that is uniquely you?  Jesus knew his role was, in his relation to God and man, to reveal harmony, healing, and health wherever he and his ministry were received.

Do we understand that what we can bring to any situation is greater love, peace, or harmony?  Are we willing to pray instead of carrying the water pots, leaving to others what is theirs to do and listening for what is ours to do, –  to see just what we are to do or say, or how we are to hear and respond?

Through unending prayer and spiritual understanding, Mary Baker Eddy answered the question, “What am I?” with this answer: “…I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing.” First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany

Knowing who we are and what our assignment is will bring such a sense of directed purpose to our life, — and leave us feeling that, obedient to divine Love, divine Mind, we can make a significant contribution to our world.

I got up with no trouble and repeated the thought to myself.  I am indeed held in His arms.  I picked up the box which fortunately contained non-breakables and went on about my tasks of preparing the house for Christmas.  I didn’t give the incident another thought until the next day when I was aware that I didn’t have any aches or pains to speak of.  I rejoiced that the “everlasting arms of Love are beneath, around, above”, and always holding us up. I am a non-breakable, too! I’m very grateful for this demonstration of God’s ever-present power of protection.

With love from Mali