The Prayer of Jabez for Kids

Rating:
Summary: This series has developed a cult following...
Review: ...and that should scare any Christian who sees it. Bruce Wilkinson is self-serving, and motivated by dollar signs, and in essence has created a cult. His books (and the candles, journals, coasters, ballcaps, and posters) try to brainwash people into believing that God is some kind of genie. The book itself is condescending, and teaches children that God is just something else to manipulate, instead of being the awesome, mighty leader that He is. Instead of reading this book to your children, try the Bible. It will set them on a much straighter path, and will have much better results.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, even for non-christian kids.
Review: I picked this book up at a recent Sunday service, intending to read it for some perspective on how the author relates the Prayer of Jabez for children. I had read the adult version of Prayer of Jabez and thought this would be an interesting read as well. I had left it on my dresser and my younger brother (10) saw it there and picked it up. Being the reading hound that he is, he finished it the next day and wanted to talk to me about it. I am the only saved person in my family and my brother started talking to me about God and his riches and glory that he wants to bestow upon you. I thought I was going to cry. Since then, he has come to church with me on a regular basis and has continued to learn and develop as a person. He has not been saved yet, but I have faith that it will happen in the near future. Since that time, I have read the book and find it very good at relating to children and their concerns while talking about God's plan and what prayer can do for your life.

Rating:
Summary: Fine Adaptation of The Prayer of Jabez for 7-11 Year Olds
Review: If you are like me, you remember with pleasure the illustrated stories about the Bible that you read in Sunday School. They helped make the lessons come to life. In this book, Bruce Wilkinson has assembled a youth-oriented version of his best seller in the finest sense of that Sunday School tradition. My estimate is that the book will be most helpful to 7-11 year olds. You could also use the material to tell the basic story to younger children, while sharing the illustrations.

The book is filled with fun illustrations, examples that are relevant to young people (wanting to be a ballerina, playing in the NFL, surfing the Web, electronic devices, and young people successfully doing God's work in bringing other young people to God), and many sidebars about biblical figures (David, Hannah, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). In all other ways, the book is the same as The Prayer of Jabez.

As much as the Bible teaches me, I find that I learn even more by hearing about the interpretations that others make of the Bible. Those interpretations are most beneficial when they include witnessing one's own experiences. Bruce Wilkinson has provided us with many soulful insights from 30 years of reciting a little-noticed prayer in this inspiring book.

One reason that it is nice to hear what others say about the Bible is that some of them read Hebrew, which I do not. Knowing what the original text said should provide more clues to its precise meaning. Mr. Wilkinson has provided many insights from the Hebrew texts to help us understand what the translations mean.

The Prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 following a brief introduction of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9. This text is in the middle of a long list of about 500 Hebrew names beginning with Adam in providing a geneology. The casual Bible reader might never notice this material.

Since there is so little text, the plain meaning of what is found here can certainly be confusing. "Jabez" means "pain" in Hebrew. Jabez was named this by his mother "Because I bore him in pain." Since almost all babies bring pain, it is hard to know exactly what was different about Jabez, if anything. In this book, there is a nice emphasis on the special problems a young person would have if his name was Pain.

Jabez is remembered for having his prayer answered. The prayer was:

"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!"

Mr. Wilkinson provides several perspectives on this prayer that added much to my understanding of the Scripture. First, Mr. Wilkinson interprets this as meaning that the person praying is asking to play a bigger role in achieving God's purposes. That was a new thought for me. I tend to feel that each of us is kept pretty busy trying to do God's will in whatever roles we already have. How can we do more? Obviously, only with God's help. By taking on even larger roles, we probably move closer to a state of humility by knowing that we cannot possibly succeed without Divine guidance and assistance. So what seems like a prideful thing actually turns out to be the opposite. What is your reaction to that?

Second, I was startled a few years ago to hear a group of rabbis and ministers talk about how the traditional concept of the moral life was to never be tempted. I feel tempted all of the time, and overcome temptations only after sincere struggles. Mr. Wilkinson points out that the best way to avoid evil is not to be tempted in the first place. "Without temptation, we will not sin." So this text encouraged me to ask even more for being kept away from evil. Naturally, the Lord's Prayer does that, but this important point had been partially lost on me until I read this book.

Beyond those Biblical insights, I also learned from Mr. Wilkinson's experiences. He takes on big tasks, uses the Jabez prayer, and keeps track of how things work out. I, too, believe in the power of prayer. It had never occurred to me to keep a journal about my experiences with prayer. I am sure that there is much to be learned.

My own interpretation of the book and the prayer is that it is just another example of God's listening to and answering our prayers. So I felt encouraged to pray, rather than to use only this specific prayer. I did find myself revising some prayers that I am fond of to incorporate elements of the Jabez prayer.

Mr. Wilkinson also sets a good example that I intend to follow. He walks up to strangers and says, "How can I help you?" Now, I do that with people who call me on the telephone and people I work with. It had never occurred to me to do so with strangers, but it is probably more helpful with strangers. I look forward to the experiences I will have as a result.

If you are like me, it will be hard to tell where Biblical interpretation ends and witnessing begins in this book. I'm not sure it's all that important to draw a line between them. The key thing is to feel closer to God and God's wisdom and love. I certainly did after reading The Prayer of Jabez. I pray that you and your children will too!

What else can you pray for that may serve God's purposes in more ways that you have not considered before?

Rating:
Summary: Fine Adaptation of The Prayer of Jabez for 7-11 Year Olds
Review: If you are like me, you remember with pleasure the illustrated stories about the Bible that you read in Sunday School. They helped make the lessons come to life. In this book, Bruce Wilkinson has assembled a youth-oriented version of his best seller in the finest sense of that Sunday School tradition. My estimate is that the book will be most helpful to 7-11 year olds. You could also use the material to tell the basic story to younger children, while sharing the illustrations.

The book is filled with fun illustrations, examples that are relevant to young people (wanting to be a ballerina, playing in the NFL, surfing the Web, electronic devices, and young people successfully doing God's work in bringing other young people to God), and many sidebars about biblical figures (David, Hannah, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). In all other ways, the book is the same as The Prayer of Jabez.

As much as the Bible teaches me, I find that I learn even more by hearing about the interpretations that others make of the Bible. Those interpretations are most beneficial when they include witnessing one's own experiences. Bruce Wilkinson has provided us with many soulful insights from 30 years of reciting a little-noticed prayer in this inspiring book.

One reason that it is nice to hear what others say about the Bible is that some of them read Hebrew, which I do not. Knowing what the original text said should provide more clues to its precise meaning. Mr. Wilkinson has provided many insights from the Hebrew texts to help us understand what the translations mean.

The Prayer of Jabez is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10 following a brief introduction of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9. This text is in the middle of a long list of about 500 Hebrew names beginning with Adam in providing a geneology. The casual Bible reader might never notice this material.

Since there is so little text, the plain meaning of what is found here can certainly be confusing. "Jabez" means "pain" in Hebrew. Jabez was named this by his mother "Because I bore him in pain." Since almost all babies bring pain, it is hard to know exactly what was different about Jabez, if anything. In this book, there is a nice emphasis on the special problems a young person would have if his name was Pain.

Jabez is remembered for having his prayer answered. The prayer was:

"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!"

Mr. Wilkinson provides several perspectives on this prayer that added much to my understanding of the Scripture. First, Mr. Wilkinson interprets this as meaning that the person praying is asking to play a bigger role in achieving God's purposes. That was a new thought for me. I tend to feel that each of us is kept pretty busy trying to do God's will in whatever roles we already have. How can we do more? Obviously, only with God's help. By taking on even larger roles, we probably move closer to a state of humility by knowing that we cannot possibly succeed without Divine guidance and assistance. So what seems like a prideful thing actually turns out to be the opposite. What is your reaction to that?

Second, I was startled a few years ago to hear a group of rabbis and ministers talk about how the traditional concept of the moral life was to never be tempted. I feel tempted all of the time, and overcome temptations only after sincere struggles. Mr. Wilkinson points out that the best way to avoid evil is not to be tempted in the first place. "Without temptation, we will not sin." So this text encouraged me to ask even more for being kept away from evil. Naturally, the Lord's Prayer does that, but this important point had been partially lost on me until I read this book.

Beyond those Biblical insights, I also learned from Mr. Wilkinson's experiences. He takes on big tasks, uses the Jabez prayer, and keeps track of how things work out. I, too, believe in the power of prayer. It had never occurred to me to keep a journal about my experiences with prayer. I am sure that there is much to be learned.

My own interpretation of the book and the prayer is that it is just another example of God's listening to and answering our prayers. So I felt encouraged to pray, rather than to use only this specific prayer. I did find myself revising some prayers that I am fond of to incorporate elements of the Jabez prayer.

Mr. Wilkinson also sets a good example that I intend to follow. He walks up to strangers and says, "How can I help you?" Now, I do that with people who call me on the telephone and people I work with. It had never occurred to me to do so with strangers, but it is probably more helpful with strangers. I look forward to the experiences I will have as a result.

If you are like me, it will be hard to tell where Biblical interpretation ends and witnessing begins in this book. I'm not sure it's all that important to draw a line between them. The key thing is to feel closer to God and God's wisdom and love. I certainly did after reading The Prayer of Jabez. I pray that you and your children will too!

What else can you pray for that may serve God's purposes in more ways that you have not considered before?

Rating:
Summary: This series has developed a cult following...
Review: What can I say? It's the same message as "The Prayer of Jabez" only for those of us with child-like hearts, (and minds, I'm afraid at times) this is a great piece of work.

What makes it better?
1) Great cartoons
2) Illustrations anyone can relate to
3) Can be taught with a sock puppet. (Okay, maybe not the whole thing, but don't throw out the whole sock puppet idea, okay?)

I'm currently using this book to teach the children in my church the same things their parents learned in adult service.