1 Chronicles 4:10
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”
In the middle of the chronology of the Chronicles, a man appears whom God blesses. While God was going through the chronology, something caused God to stop and focus on this man. The thing that was different about Jabez was eventually what caused God to bless him. This thing that was different about Jabez was his heart. Let me show you the three things that were different about Jabez that caused God to stop.
The first thing that caused God to stop was his vision. Jabez prayed to God and said, “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed…” The vision of Jabez was greater than others around him and it caused God to stop and focus and this man. The vision was that he wanted God’s blessings on his life. He didn’t want to be like everyone else, and he certainly wasn’t. His vision caused God to stop and set him aside from everyone else in the chronology.
Would your vision cause God to stop? Better yet, do you have a vision? One of the things this generation lacks is vision. We live in a generation that seems to accept the status quo. We live in a generation that is complacent with being like everyone else. Why should God stop and notice you if your vision is average? You should have a vision for God to do something great through your life.
The second thing that caused God to stop was his desire. His desire was to have his coast enlarged. He wasn’t like everyone else who was happy with yesterday’s blessings, but he wanted God to bless him today. He wanted to see God work in his life today like he saw Him work yesterday. This desire caused God to stop and notice him.
God always stops and notices those who have a desire for God to do something today. You should never be satisfied with yesterday’s blessings. Those whom God uses the greatest are those who have a passionate desire for God to do something through them today. Friend, don’t settle to live on someone else’s blessings and get a desire for God to bless you.
The third thing that caused God to stop and notice Jabez was his purpose. His purpose was to stay away from sin. This always gets God’s attention. When you have a vision and desire to do more for God so that you will stay away from sin, God will stop and notice you. Your purpose in life should be to please God. Pleasing your parents and those who’ve invested in your life are a great purpose, but to have a purpose to please God by living a holy life will always cause God to stop and notice you.
Let me ask you, do you have a vision that is greater than the status quo? Are your aspirations in life average? Do you have a desire for God to do something great in your life today? Is your purpose to please God in all that you do? These are the things that will cause God to stop and notice you. These are the things that will cause God to put His hand upon an individual. When you get a heart for God, you will find these three things will certainly be in your life.