"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the Elohim (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 Elohim granted him what he requested" (1 Chron.4:9-10, NKJV).

At first sight Jabez's prayer might seem a little egotistical - "enlarge my territory" - that he was only interested in in becoming a wealthy land-owner. However this idea does not gel with his character or fit with the rest of his prayer which is a desire to be kept from evil and to walk in the paths of righteousness to the glory of Yahweh. To ask for more land to bring wealth to yourself is one thing, but if you want it to being glory and honour to Yahweh, that is something wholly different.

Randall Brewer suggests that asking for more land is also a way of asking to increase the sphere of ones influence in the world in order to build the Kingdom of Elohim. I agree. Whenever we ask for any kind of 'enlargement' of our assets it must always be to increase the influence of Yahweh in the world through our gifts and hands. As as we know, Yahweh does not want to cause people pain! Far from it. He wants people to be blessed, happy and at shalom. We bring about our own suffering for the most part because we will not trust and obey Yahweh.

However, because we can be used by Yahweh for such a noble end, we must first obtain Yahweh's blessing. Having an increase of influence without His blessing will only lead to trouble, not blessings, and therefore an adding to pain in a world already in agony. For without a spiritual blessing we will always get a 'blessing' of the flesh...which is no blessing at all, because that is egotistical and (ultimately) devilish,

What is Yahweh's call on your life? Have you discovered what it is yet? And if you know, have you received His blessing to carry it out? And if not, do you know why it has been withheld? You need to know the answers to these questions urgently. Now is the time to find the answers, remove the obstacles, and so obtain your blessing. Pay close attention to everything He tells you in your dreams, the impressions of the Ruach as you pray, and do not stop praying until you get the answers and the blessing! Jacob would not release the angel he was wrestling with until he obtained Yah's blessing for he must have known that without it the wresling would have been in vain:

"And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of JabboHe took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, 'Let Me go, for the day breaks.' But he said, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me!' So He said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' And He said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with Elohim (God) and with men, and have prevailed'" (Gen.32:22-29, NKJV).

We too must struggle to remain IN Messiah for the enemy will constantly seek to separate us from Him. Those who just sit back will be edged out of Him and then finally driven. We must struggle to return to Him for it will not be accomplished in a state of passivity. Neither will we accomplish it if we do not strive with men as well for many there will be who will, under Satan's influence, seek to hinder us. Therefore we must persist no matter what until the blessing is received. This persistence, in the face of relentless opposition, is what marks out Yahweh's sons and rulers. It's what sets them on their course.

Let us persist with Jabez and Jacob, repenting of sin, yielding to heavenly authorities, and dying to self, until we are blessed and on course! Since October we have no choice but to do so or be swept away by the demonic tide that is striking our world. The enemy is on an 'all or bust' course and unless we can meet that will, and surpass it, we will be bust. So choose to resist and overcome!