The Power of praise and Worship, by Terry Law  click here 

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A POWERFUL AND ANCIENT PRAYER

Remember the "prayer of Jabez"? That's a passage from 1 Chronicles 4:10, whereby an "honorable man" named Jabez, perhaps in the line of the kings of Judah, called on the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your Hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!"

And God granted him what he requested.

Many claim remarkable results when praying that. Discern it for yourself. (Praying Scripture can't hurt.)

Don't use it materialistically, no; this is not about prosperity ministry. Nor is it magic. It is about protection -- important in our time -- and expanding our ability to serve God. With that comes the means to do so.

And so: "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your Hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" Expand your boundaries. Don't limit yourself. Pray to God that you fully complete the design He has set for your life.

Great prayer, although our focus now is another, one from the second book of Chronicles -- perhaps a more powerful prayer! This one was said by Solomon upon completion of one of the most sacred places in history: the Jerusalem Temple where the Ark of the Covenant had just been placed. Let us transport ourselves back to that scene (2 Chronicles 6). It is a prayer that was said from the heart.  It is about sustenance -- security, and victory -- on all levels. Feel these deep ancient words, so well-wrought.

It is a prayer that came as part of the king's blessing upon all of Israel. It's also a prayer said at the very altar where the Ark was set. "O Lord, the God of Israel, there is no god like You in Heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing loving kindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart," said Solomon in front of the throngs there to worship. It is a prayer that asks God to rebuke the wicked and uphold the righteous.

It asks forgiveness if a drought has been caused by the sin of those who there dwell, and asks for rain.

It invokes God to dwell with men on this earth.

It confesses iniquity. It confesses wickedness. And it gains deliverance from them. It came from a man, son of David, whose spiritual wisdom was phenomenal. It asked for help "if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is, if there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is blight or mildew, if there is locust or grasshopper, if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities, whatever plague or whatever sickness there is."

Then came the amazing Solomon's actual powerful supplication (from the depths of spirit, from the heart):

“Now, O my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.

“Now therefore arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your might; let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation and let Your godly ones rejoice in what is good.

“O Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember Your loving kindness to Your servant David.”

Say this three times. Say it as Solomon did from the heart. Say it during Mass. When Solomon uttered it -- when he prayed these words (just once), when he did so at the altar, really worshipping -- "fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices," says 2 Chronicles (7:1). "And the glory of the Lord filled the house."

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