Topic: Faith
A Week-day Devotional by Dick Innes of ACTS International
1. A Powerful Prayer
"Oh that you would bless me wonderfully."1
One very effective prayer I was taught in my youth was: "Dear God, today I commit and trust my life and way to you as I do that of my family (stating their names)." I have prayed that prayer daily ever since.
To that prayer I have added another powerful prayer based on a prayer from an almost unknown character, Jabez, whose name, as far as I know, is mentioned in only one chapter in the Bible.
He prayed to the God of Israel: 'Oh, that you would bless me wonderfully. Please be with me in everything I do. Greatly expand my borders and keep me from all evil and disaster.'"
The result? "God granted him his request!"
I can't always see how God is leading and blessing me especially at those times when I feel my prayers don't go any higher than the ceiling. However, as I look back over my life I can see how God has blessed me wonderfully and greatly "expanded my borders" more than I ever dreamed possible.
In a nutshell: our gospel literature outreach has expanded to be used around the world by several thousand churches, missionaries, other organizations, business and professional people, individuals, and military, hospital and prison chaplains. And now through E-mail and the Internet we are receiving salvation responses daily from around the world. God has used ACTS ministries to help introduce many thousands to the Savior. You can see how God has and is answering this powerful prayer in our latest report at: www.actsweb.org/acts_in_action.php.
I encourage you also to commit and trust your life and the lives of your loved ones to God and pray the prayer Jabez prayed—every day. I've done this for many years and plan to continue doing so every day for as long as I live. Do this and God will grant you your request too.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, O that you would bless me and my family wonderfully again today. Please be with us in everything we do. Greatly expand our (Christian) borders and keep us from all evil and disaster. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 1 Chronicles 4:10.
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