"He(Jabez)was the one who prayed to the God of Israel,
“Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep
me from all trouble and pain!” And God
granted him his request." I Chronicles
4:10
I just finished listening to the audio book, The Prayer of Jabez, by Bruce Wilkinson. If you are ministering
among Muslim women it might prove to be just what you need to give that extra boost
to push through spiritually to enjoy wider influence and impact in your
ministry.
It was a mid-afternoon, standing alone in my living
room, when I felt like all the air from a balloon had been let out. Deflated.
Nothing seemed to amount to anything in ministry. Just the same thing day in,
day out, week after week, month after month, year after year. Visit, visit, visit....Is this all You want me to do? I
forlornly asked the Lord. Will nothing go
further? Is it just starting and ending here? I want so badly to pass on what
You have taught me but I can’t envision how that can happen. Please do
something, Lord.
I was crying and begging the same
desperate prayer of Jabez, except in a spiritual sense: Enlarge my territory! There comes a time after years or decades of
service with valuable experience and knowledge gained when we long to have a
wider impact. We want to coach others
who feel called to reach out to Muslim women but don’t know how to go about it. We’re not concerned about gaining a reputation but
to be an influence in God’s Kingdom work. For decades I was involved in my
little corner but finally the time arrived when I yearned to break out of the
confines of that sphere and experience more spiritual territory. So, I begged
God to do just that. Maybe He waits until He sees we are desperate. Have you
ever begged God to widen your impact in ministry? He will do it in ways which
will surprise you. Perhaps the widening
of influence will come via public speaking, teaching, writing, or mobilizing a prayer network. God designs how your voice can best be heard.
Today I prayed
for key women who are seeing their spiritual territory being enlarged. Some of you role models are in the United
States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. God is enlarging your spiritual territory(His Kingdom), giving wider impact
to your ministry, and making you influential as you equip women eager to learn
how to engage in ministry among Muslim women. You are making a difference. He validates you. Keep asking Him to expand
your borders more– for there is much territory to be claimed for God! Transcending
denominational borders you are a pioneer blazing new trails in God’s Kingdom.
Perhaps some of you readers have been searching and praying for more resources to help you understand Muslim women better and how to share the Good News with them more effectively. You might want to check out the website http://whenwomenspeak.net
Perhaps some of you readers have been searching and praying for more resources to help you understand Muslim women better and how to share the Good News with them more effectively. You might want to check out the website http://whenwomenspeak.net
Dear heavenly Father, please enlarge the impact of my
Christian sisters around the world who are the modellers and influencers in
ministry among Muslim women. Anoint them with Your power, blessing, and
gifting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
