Moses was a leader chosen by God. In the book of Exodus we read of his experience leading, mainly leading the Israelite nation from captivity on a forty year journey in the wilderness before they would enter the Promised Land. A leader chosen by God to lead His people, yet a leader who needed development. Though God gave Moses this monumental task, God did not give him every facet of expert leadership ability. Instead God placed around Moses others with complementary personalities and leadership skills. Moses had Aaron and Mariam and later Joshua and others.

Exodus chapter eighteen tells us of one lesson in leadership for Moses from an unlikely source.

Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, along with Moses’ wife and sons, came to him in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. He sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons.”

The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴  When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” ¹⁵  Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶  Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.”

“What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him. “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you. If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.” Exodus 18:5-6, 13-23 (HCSB)

Moses had the daunting task of leading God’s people, yet God did not give Moses all the ability, skill, and gifts needed to be the sole person responsible for leadership and administration. Neither did God extend the day for Moses to have enough time to solely take on the task. Moses needed to share the responsibility of leadership and trust God that all would be okay. Moses’ greatest need was not necessarily skill, but the need to recognize effective deployment of leadership and implementation of God’s plans. Moses was attempting to manage people and all their predicaments instead of leading the Israelite nation.

The same is true for you and me today. Whether you are pastor, teacher of a Sunday School class, a leader of any ministry group or organization outside the church, God has placed around you complementary personalities with complementary gifts and skills. Do not try to be Superman or the Lone Ranger because that is not who God created you to be.

In the daily hustle and bustle of life and the challenges confronting us, we sometimes miss “the important.” We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now speaks throughout the land on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”

“How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb. “I packed your parachute,” the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!”

Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.” Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: A white hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot, and he was just a sailor.” Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, “Who’s packing your parachute?”

Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory – he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead.

Be certain to take time to realize and recognize Who’s packing your parachute as you fly through this week’s life experiences. Don’t pass an opportunity to say a kind word, share a smile, do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return.

Marcy nods and begins, “As staff members and other leaders in the church ministries we need to be watching the road ahead in order to make needed adjustments before it’s too late. If we’re in the middle of Vacation Bible School and we know there is a big storm coming our way, we need to make adjustments, move inside. Likewise, if we have an event planned, yet our registration is low, we need to make adjustments. Too often I think when we see something like that we just back off, start cutting corners.”

Greg inquisitively interrupts Marcy and asks, “What do you mean? What kind of corner cutting takes place?”

Susan picks up the conversation, “We start cutting our food order.” Marcy jumps right back in, “And we cut the staffing for nursery. Things like that, always cutting back…”

Roger, with a quizzical look jumps in. “What’s wrong with that? I think that’s good. That’s being frugal. It’s good stewardship.”

“Is it?” questions Marcy. Then she expounds on her thoughts. “The first thing we do is start cutting back, when we should be praying. And before we pray asking God to bring us more people, we need to pray asking God’s forgiveness. Asking Him to show us where we have fallen or more likely where we have jumped ahead of Him, trying to do it our way. I just think we don’t give God the opportunity to work in maybe the final hours to produce that miracle.” Marcy pauses looking at Greg then over to Susan, hesitant to look at the others in the room, perhaps in fear that she may have offended them.

To her surprise Joe speaks first. “That’s pretty hard hitting Marcy. But you are exactly right. We say we love God and He has the power to do wonderful things even miracles, yet we do not give Him the opportunity. I’m guilty Marcy. Thank you for showing me that, or allowing God to speak through you to show me.”

Andy is chomping at the bit to get in the conversation. “Wow, Marcy, you are right. As you were speaking the Holy Spirit convicted me of doing that very thing two weeks ago when I cancelled the youth trip for this coming Saturday because of lack of participation. I didn’t give God a chance to work in any of those kids lives.” Silence pervades as conviction takes hold of hearts in the room.

After about fifteen seconds Greg states, “I think this would be a good time to stop and pray. I’ll lead…” Pastor Tim interrupts, “No, Greg I appreciate that, but I’ll lead in the prayer. I have allowed this to happen on my watch as Pastor. I am responsible…”Marcy tries to interrupt wanting to take the burden off Tim, but he refuses to yield the floor. Holding out his hand as to stop traffic, he says, “No Marcy, God convicted me too just then. He used you to convict us and we need to repent and ask for His guidance. Let’s pray.”

As everyone bows Pastor Tim and Andy both slip out of their chair and bow on their knees. Before Pastor Tim begins his prayer Joe joins them on his knees as well. Tim’s prayer:

“God Almighty, You are so powerful and righteous. We are so fallible and feeble. You have made known to us this hour of one of our acts of unrighteousness. Forgive us Lord as we look to you now with humble hearts and teary eyes. We have tried to do something in our own power thinking it would please you. On more than one occasion we have run ahead of you. Help us each one to learn from this today, to trust you more fully in everything. Not to cut until you say to cut. Not to back off until you say to back off. But instead to seek you and trust you that in all things you have the power to overcome what we see as stopping points. When in reality they may very well be your proving points. Forgive me for as Your leader, Your undershepherd, I have…”

Tim continues in his prayer. When He finishes and says Amen, he is ready to rise from his knees, but immediately from across the room Andy’s voice begins praying aloud. When Andy finishes, Joe voices a similar prayer of repentance and asking for guidance. The prayer then moves around the table. Every person in the room voices a similar prayer.

Greg closes the prayer time thanking God for His wonderful work in the moment. As the prayer time ends, some are weeping. Pastor Tim steps over to Marcy gives her a hug and thanks her for her obedience in sharing with the group. Then unexpectedly, he makes his way around the room hugging everyone individually, thanking them and asking for their forgiveness.

We all have areas of vulnerability. Successful leaders understand that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness as some would assume. Many leaders want to hide their vulnerabilities, living behind a facade. Researcher and author Brene Brown says, “Vulnerability is actually the courage to show up and be seen.” She goes on to say, “Vulnerability is the absolute heartbeat of innovation and creativity. There can be zero innovation without vulnerability.”[i] Great and successful leaders understand that revealing their vulnerabilities can bring out the strengths and creative genius in others. Revealing vulnerabilities as a leader also demonstrates you are human and will allow team members not to try to live above their own abilities and vulnerabilities. However, team members will be encouraged to reach to their potential skill and abilities.

If allowing Himself to be arrested, severely beaten, and hung on a cross isn’t demonstrating vulnerability, then our dictionaries have the wrong definition. God Himself through Jesus Christ demonstrated the ultimate vulnerability so you and I can have life eternal. Learn and practice vulnerability in your leadership circles.

This article is an excerpt from Turnaround Journey, chapter nine. Learn more and purchase your copy at soncare.net.

[i] From article at Forbes.com, The Best Leaders are Vulnerable, July 18, 2013

Another Christmas has come and gone. Perhaps your December, like many of your friends and neighbors, has been busy again this year. For the last few weeks we’ve been hearing those famous words, “Tis the season…” People attach different words to the end of that phrase now-a-days. I remember when it was, “Tis the season to be jolly.”

Perhaps one of the appropriate terms today would be, “Tis the season to make our lives busier.” It is true. We speak all year of how busy we are, and that we cannot fit another activity into our busy schedules.

Yet, in December, some way Americans find fifteen more hours to shop, fourteen hours at social functions (work parties, church socials, etc.), four hours at Christmas pageants, plays, and cantatas, four hours baking, sixteen hours more with family and close friends, and six hours wrapping presents, decorating the tree and house. That is 59 hours!

Aren’t you glad December has 59 more hours than the other months so you can accomplish all these extras? Think of what we could accomplish if we each had 59 more hours the other eleven months?

We couldn’t use the time the same in the other months as we do in December, though. For one, the gross national consumer debt would skyrocket. All the sales might help the economy, but it sure wouldn’t help our personal pocketbooks and checking accounts. And what would we do with Christmas trees all year long? Take one down at the end of each month and put up a new one? Stockholders in electric companies would certainly be pleased.

Spending the extra time with family and close friends would be a plus. I wonder though, how many of our family members might say, “Enough is enough. Go home!”

Perhaps we could take part of the extra time each month and simply relax. Sit down and enjoy God’s wonderful creation and the wonderful life and opportunities He has given us that month. That would be nice wouldn’t it?

Think of the extra ministry (serving others) we could accomplish with 59 more hours every month. Man, could we get some things done for God then!

Let’s face it most everything listed in the previous four paragraphs is about as likely to happen as Donald Duck coming to life. It is not going to happen. If we had more time we would only find more ways to spend it in the busyness of our hectic lives. The truth is we are not going to get more time in any given month. Nor do we have 59 extra hours in December.

We must treasure the time we have. Life is but a vapor and we must be good stewards of the time we have and make the most for God. As for the month of December, we do find the time to do all these extras – 59 hours of time carved out to take part in the events and activities that are important to us and the things we want to be involved in.

Have you ever said, “If I only had more time I would…” You have the same amount of time in December as the other months. You accomplish those extras because you want to. If you can carve out the time in December, why not the other eleven months? Place God first in your life and make every month December. What can we accomplish? What can you accomplish? God only Knows!

December is a busy month and for most it is a fun month. For some the joy of the season becomes overshadowed by sickness and loss. December is a month filled with shopping, visiting with friends and family; a month with parties and get togethers; a month of giving and receiving.

And it all began to commemorate and celebrate the greatest gift of all – the gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.

If Jesus had not left His throne and all the splendor of heaven to be born of a virgin, Mary, you and I would not know the victory and peace of having life in heaven after this life on earth is finished. Nor would we enjoy many of the blessings and wonderful memories we share today.

December is a month full of memories. What memories do you have of Christmas? Each one of us in December whether intentionally or not spend time reminiscing of Christmases past. And that is okay. God gives us memories to encourage and bring a smile to our face.

Think for a moment of one or more of your favorite Christmas memories. Does your memory include a gift or a person?

Even if your thoughts were of a gift, my guess is you also thought of who gave that gift. You see though some of our memories are of gifts or things received, I believe memories are predicated on relationships. The things that you treasure, the memories you recall, are based on relationships.

In your memories of Christmases past, do you have memories of Jesus and what God has done in your life? Not thoughts of your depiction of the manger scene – but of God in your life?

Look with me at Luke chapter 2 verse 19. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. (HCSB)

What was Mary treasuring? What was her treasure based on? 

I believe Mary was treasuring what the shepherds told her and Joseph about the angel’s visit and the proclamation of the angel that this was the Christ-child, the Messiah.

More importantly than the story being told, I believe Mary was treasuring every thought that she was so blessed to be in the presence of the long awaited Messiah. Mary understood that she was truly in the presence of God.

I believe she was treasuring every word of how the angel came upon the shepherds in the field and she was trying to absorb, soak in every word spoken by the angel about this night and the son she was blessed to give birth to.

There is no doubt in my mind that Mary was also placing these treasured moments in her memory bank right along with the visit she received from the Angel less than a year prior to this special night.

Mary was building a chest full of treasures, wonderful God-filled memories of which nothing can compare.

God is gifting you today with blessings of treasures. Your treasures today may come from being with family and friends. Your treasures may include a quiet few moments sitting and enjoying the lighted Christmas tree. For Mary it was in the visit from the shepherds whom she had never met. Where is God blessing you today? Where is He giving you treasures of blessing?

Don’t pass them up or overlook them with the worries and concerns of the day. Listen, observe, and believe in the treasures of the day. The greatest treasure of all is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ – who’s Birthday we celebrate today.

All is well, All is Well – Go and tell.

Angels and men rejoice

Lift up your voice and sing.

Christ has come – Go and tell!

 My prayer for you today is a very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in England but came to the United States at age 12, eventually settling in Wisconsin with her parents. Helen had a reputation of being a brilliant singer. She studied private voice for four years in Germany. In the early 1900’s she regularly traveled giving concerts in many churches.

She married a European who was quite wealthy. She taught voice at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago before teaching in Los Angeles. During her lifetime of 98 years she composed over 500 hymns and poems and even authored a children’s book.

It was during the middle years of her life that things changed dramatically and she was dealt a couple of big blows to her faith. Helen became blind and her husband abandoned her. Life became a struggle for her and would have challenged anyone’s faith.

In 1918 a missionary friend gave her a pamphlet that was titled “Focused.” Inside it contained some very impacting words for her – “So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full in His face and you will find that things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”  These words had a great impact on her.

Helen recalled later, “I stood still and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but nonetheless dictated by the Holy Spirit.”

That song was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”  The chorus is “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Helen suffered with blindness and a husband leaving her. Through it all she turned her eyes to Jesus knowing that only He would not fail her or leave her in any situation or circumstance.

The Christmas season does not come without its challenges. For some this is a lonely and depressing time of year. If you find yourself to be in one of these scenarios why not turn to the one for whom we celebrate the Christmas season. As Helen Lemmel found out, even in blindness, the light of day is beautiful and blessed if you will only “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.

My prayer for you is that God will make Himself known to you in a special way this Christmas season. Turn Your eyes upon Jesus and see that He will make the things of this world grow strangely dim.

God bless and Merry Christmas.

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their families that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday’s dinner.

In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of baskets of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. All but one. He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping, and no one to care for her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them into the baskets, and helped her set the display up once more. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $20 for the damage we did. Are you okay?”

She nodded through the tears. He continued on with, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…” He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, “Are you Jesus?”
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then he slowly made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: “Are you Jesus?”

Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life, and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.

In the the hurried, busyness of Christmas, will people see Jesus in your actions? Think about it.

John and Kari had visited several churches. One, in particular felt warm and friendly. The members seemed friendly. Several spoke to John and Kari each Sunday. A couple of ladies in the church even asked one Sunday for Kari and John to visit their Bible study class.

John and Kari enjoyed the music and the pastor’s messages. After a few weeks they joined the church. It wasn’t long afterward until the seat where John and his wife sat every Sunday were once again vacant. Some members questioned among themselves about the whereabouts of John and Kari. No one knew.

This scenario is played out week after week in churches around the United States and your church is not exempt. Sometimes we do a good job with “courting” visitors. While they are checking us out, trying to find a comfortable fit, we treat them like true guests. Yet, once they join we leave them to swim on their own. The difficulty is they are in uncharted waters – uncharted for them at least. It would be similar to taking a common man of the street who has never seen the inside of a cockpit and sitting him in the pilot seat of a space shuttle and expecting him to fly to the space station and back.

Other times, we go through the motions of telling people we care and we are glad they are here, but we never truly let them in. We do not always realize it. After speaking to guests we become so involved with our own friends and longtime church “buddies” that we forget what it is like to be new. Guests, visitors, and new members do not have the advantage of knowing all the ins and outs of your church. They do not know how to get plugged in, and we assist them in their fog by not helping them.

We recognize and even speak friendly to visitors, but we treat them like visitors, not guests. A guest is someone you are expecting and you desire them to stay. You have prepared for them ahead of time and you take care of them, waiting on them as a host or hostess. A visitor is someone who shows up on your doorstep and you are cordial to them. All the while you are wondering when they are going to leave.

They ride the bubble for a while and eventually they end up as John and Kari – gone – and no one knows where or why. Nor does anyone attempt to rescue the drowning new member.

Visitors and new members need to be needed. It is important that we open our circle of influence to include new members, allowing them to be all that God has called them to be. After all, by not allowing someone to be all God has created them to be, we are not being all that God has called us to be.

Every person God places in our lives, He places for us to in some way edify and that through him/her the Holy Spirit may in some way edify us. How do you personally go the extra mile to make those new people in your life feel welcome and needed?

For more information on this topic contact George Yates and visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries.

Every shepherd has a sheep that he calls the bellwether. And everywhere the shepherd goes he’s with him. The bellwether soon understands the heart of the shepherd, and the bond between them grows everyday. In every way.

And the bellwether walks with the lost sheep. Spends time with those who have roamed. And when he returns to the shepherd, one by one they follow him home.

God’s only Son left His throne to become our bellwether. His life He gave to seek and save the lost sheep. The perfect lamb who knew no sin said, “Here am I, send me”. I’ll lead the way so those who’ve strayed can follow. Follow me home.

Now He waits for me and you to take them the good news. There is a path that leads them home to safety. They’re hurting and scared, scattered everywhere. They need to know – with open arms He’s waiting.

And the bellwether walks with the lost sheep. Spends time with those who have roamed. And when he returns to the shepherd, one by one they follow him home.

These are the words to a song written by Eddie Carswell for the Christian music group NEWSONG from a few years ago. It is a beautiful song with beautiful words and music score.

After hearing this song, I purchased the CD, read the words, and began researching ‘bellwether’. The words of the song are true and what a powerful word picture for Christians. The bellwether becomes a leader, mentor and guide for the other sheep. He is the lead sheep for a shepherd, with a bell around his neck.

By spending time with the shepherd he learns the desires of the shepherd for his sheep. The bellwether follows the shepherd and his wishes. The other sheep in turn follow the bellwether. If any of the sheep go astray or roams away from the flock, the bellwether goes to them, spends time with them, and leads them back to the flock and to the shepherd.

The picture I get is the bellwether goes to the lost or stray sheep not in a rage or in anger but in gentleness and love of the shepherd. The bellwether does not rebuke in sheep talk, rather he lovingly leads the sheep back to the shepherd, not forcibly but quietly and sensitively.

What a great picture Eddie has so beautifully painted with the words to “Bellwether” for Christians today. Notice also, how the picture unfolds. First, he describes to us what a bellwether is. In the second verse, he illustrates how Jesus is our bellwether. Then,  in the third verse he explicates how we as Christians are to be the bellwether to our flock and our community.

Now He waits for me and you. To take them the good news.There is a path that leads them home to safety. They’re hurting and scared, scattered everywhere.They need to know – with open arms He’s waiting.  

And the bellwether walks with the lost sheep. Spends time with those who have roamed. And when he returns to the shepherd, one by one they follow him home.

Are you a bellwhether creating more bellwethers? What will you do this week to be and to build a bellwether?

Listen to the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIpJBNXhA4c and I encourage you to purchase the CD! Thank you Eddie Carswell!

One of the virtues of scripture is it is God’s Word to reveal to us what to pray and how to pray. I enjoy praying scripture, not only the prayers found in scripture as stated in the previous post on this blog. Praying the prayers of scripture affects my life on various levels and enhances my spiritual walk. There are many prayers in scripture that we can pray, applying them to our lives. One I pray quite frequently is the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10).

Here is a man otherwise obscure in all of scripture. However, his prayer is noteworthy enough to God that He, God, stops the roll call of the genealogy of the Hebrew people to list this single prayer. Right in the middle of 500 names is this prayer of this otherwise unknown man.

“O Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory, and keep your hand upon me. Keep me from evil that I might not cause shame.”  I Chronicles 4:10

When I pray the prayer of Jabez I am not praying for God to give me more wealth or material things. God provides all my needs and more. When I pray the first line of this prayer, I do not desire more material possessions. I count as my greatest blessings from God the opportunities to do something for Him. Every time I can serve God by working with Him, I am truly blessed and have a joy well up inside me that no amount of wealth or material possessions could compare.

As a young child my family would go to visit my grandparents just outside of Lewisburg, Kentucky. On Saturday afternoon my grandfather would take one or two of us kids and drive down to the local country store (Well’s). This was a highlight of the whole visit. And so, each visit, when I knew “Papaw” was getting ready for that afternoon trip, I would be following him around the house, hoping he would pick me to go with him. It was such a treasured time I still remember it today some fifty years later. When I pray that first line in the Jabez prayer, I am asking God please, let’s do it again. Only now I am no longer eight, I am fifty-eight and I want more. I want to go again and again. The more God takes me along, the more I want to go and do. The blessing is in getting chosen to go with God, and that is what leads to the next line of the prayer.

Enlarge my territory. Again, this line is not asking God for more land (although I wouldn’t mind having a few more acres). With this request I am asking God to allow me even more time with Him. Why? Because I am blessed when He allows me as revealed in the first line of this prayer. I am blessed so much that I not only want to go again and again, I want to go more. I want to do more with God. If blessings could be measured in gallon buckets and going with God on one venture equaled one gallon of blessing, then I am asking God, why not five gallons. Enlarge my territory.

To serve alongside God always brings blessings this world cannot measure. I do not know about you, but the greatest things in life bring pleasure and I always desire more of those pleasures. The same is true when serving alongside God. I want God to bring me into His service more, because I want more of the pleasure of His blessing.

Along with His blessings and an enlarged territory, I realize a need for caution. Jabez knew this as well. Hence the third line in his prayer.  “Keep your hand upon me.” Jabez knew that even in the midst of God’s presence and doing His work, it is easy to get sidetracked and self-reliant. If God brought me to it, I do not want to try to accomplish it in my power. I will surely mess it up. Instead, like Jabez, I ask God to keep his hand on me, so that I will not mess it up. The blessing comes in doing things God’s way. “Keep your hand upon me.”

The fourth and last line of Jabez’s prayer is precautionary. The third line was for God to keep His hand on me. The fourth line is ‘and don’t let me stray’. Whenever doing something good for and with God, someone will be upset. If not someone you see, certainly Satan, the devil himself will not like it. And He will attempt to keep you from serving God and accomplishing God’s assignment. Satan is very conniving. And he can be very convincing. He is the father of lies and will stop at nothing to cause you to stumble and fall when serving God.

I add to Jabez’s fourth line when I pray this prayer. My prayer is, “God, keep me from evil and keep evil from me that I will not bring shame.” I will even extend that line of thought to say, “I do not want to bring shame against you, your church, my church family, my family, my wife, or me.” I know that without God’s hand, His guidance, and protection, I am prone to fall. I want all God’s protection and defense against the flesh, worldly pleasures, and Satan himself.

“O Lord, bless me indeed, enlarge my territory, and keep your hand upon me. Keep me from evil that I might not cause shame.”  I Chronicles 4:10

Enrich your life. Pray scripture. Pray the prayers found in scripture. Write to me and let me know how prayer affects your life.

For more on praying scripture contact George Yates and be sure to visit SonC.A.R.E. Ministries on the web.