As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God – this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace! Namaste.
Last article was about a pearl of a prayer called the Prayer of Jabez. Like pearls from oysters, this pearl is found in an unlikely place and comes from an unlikely beginning.
Listen to the prayer:
Oh, that you would bless me
And enlarge my border!
And that your hand might be with me
And that you would keep me from hurt and harm.
This is a simple prayer. Last article I affirmed that God does and, indeed, wants to bless us –and that it’s more than OK – it’s good – to ask God to bless us, our families, our friends, our business, our homes!
The second request of Jabez was, “Enlarge my border . . .” The original Hebrew word can be translated as territory, or boundary, or border, or coast. It’s a plea, a petition to God, to enlarge the boundaries of your life, to stretch you, to make you grow, to use you in new ways.
This is a request to God that fits so many situations.
Think of those who feel trapped in a situation that seems confining and never ending. The prayer could sound like:
God, enlarge the border of my belief in You for direction and solutions!
Think of those who live with limited or negative thinking, never seeing beyond their narrow vision.
God, enlarge the border of my faith to see situations the way you see them!
Think of those whose enthusiasm for life has all but vanished. Their excitement for each new day is barely hanging on.
Enlarge the boundaries of my enthusiasm and joy, O God. Let me experience you in the everyday blessings of my life.
A faith community might pray, Enlarge the boundaries of our dreams, enlarge the border of our vision, of our outreach, of our influence . . .
God has been with us as a community of faith going on 44 years. We are blessed with you – all of you VIP people, creating together a community of faith that is Vibrant, Inclusive and Progressive. The border and boundaries of influence and ministry of our church have continually increased and touched so many people. God has blessed us to be a blessing to others.
It was under the leadership of Rev. Tony Freeman, when I discovered this church in 1997. I started attending, was hooked, and the rest is history! During this time, the church was asking God for big things. Prayer was going on in different ways around the church – every week! We were dreaming big, realizing we are all called and gifted to some sort of ministry.
God was calling us to expand our border, once again. Initially, a group of faithful started to dream big and in 1975, just 5 years old, bought their first property in Golden Hill, now South Park. Did you know MCC was the first LGBT organization in San Diego to purchase and own property? And then in 1982, the property on 30th Street in North Park was purchased – another big step of faith; God was enlarging the borders and outreach of this church. Then from our temporary worship space at The Center to our beautiful church here by the bay God has allowed more and more people to know of our ministry.
Did you know we have a weekly outreach to an average of close to 1,000 people on Facebook – and we are up to 600 likes! People listen to our online sermons every week from several states and countries and God has allowed our weekly article in the San Diego LGBT Weekly to touch lives. Very often people I don’t know will come up to me and say, “Aren’t you the one who writes those articles in the paper?”
Oh, that you would bless us
And enlarge our border!
And that your hand might be with us
And that you would keep us from hurt and harm.
Jabez wanted to do more and be more for God. That is my prayer for my personal life and for us as a church.
Jabez was blessed because he refused to let any obstacle or negative thinking, or person or opinion become more powerful than the power of God to bless him.
Oh, that Your hand would be with me! Notice that Jabez didn’t begin his prayer with that – it was after the blessing, and then the increased territory that he asked God’s hand to be with him. I like what Bruce Wilkinson says, “If seeking God’s blessings is our ultimate act of worship, and asking to do more for God is our utmost ambition, then asking for God’s hand upon us is our strategic choice to sustain and continue the great things that God has begun in our lives.”
In biblical terms, “the hand of God” meant God’s power and presence. Jabez was so certain of the importance of God’s hand upon him for blessing, that he couldn’t imagine a life without it. Oh, that Your hand would be with me.
Sometimes we walk with God’s hand on our lives and then we walk into situations and places that can distract us from hearing God or seeing God in our lives. I think that’s why Jabez prayed next, That you would keep me from hurt and harm.
One translation is that you would keep me from evil. There’s a lot of negativity in our everyday world that would want to pull you down. Think about the importance of who and what you surround yourself with. Know your areas of weakness and then stay away from them.
I’ve learned never to go shopping when I’m really hungry. I’ll end up with a cart full of junk food and comfort food.
It’s obvious, that it’s not a wise thing for an alcoholic to hang out at bars. Or someone on a diet going into Baskin Robbins 31 flavors or choosing to go to the all-you-can-eat buffet!
The bottom line is, God wants to bless you and will give you strength and will power for the task at hand. So, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Thank you, God, for hearing this prayer! Let my life reflect your love and grace. Let me walk in confidence, boldness and your blessings. Amen
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the senior pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met), 2633 Denver Street, San Diego, California, themetchurch.org. Services every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.
