Prayer of Jabez, According to John
The simple prayer of Jabez, recorded more than 2000 years ago in 1 Chronicles 4, has sparked a modern-day awakening. Bruce Wilkinson�s pocket-sized book � a mere 96 pages � has appeared consistently on all best-seller lists. Countless stories have been told of praying the prayer and witnessing the results. One musical group, four guys who play under the name �According to John,� has written a chorus to accompany the Old Testament prayer. �Song of Jabez� is the centerpiece of the band�s second album, Beyond What I See. Three of the four band members � John, Jason and Matt � share with Family.org the milestones that expanded their ministry beyond expectation.
The five-year-old band received their first record deal after only two years of playing together. According to John quickly accomplished their goals of recognition and musical success. But, as lead singer John Waller admits, �Our passion for ministry was mixed with the desire to promote our selves.�
According to John felt that God was preparing them for the next step, namely a new record label home. However, the Nashville hopefuls were not immediately offered a label. With no way to make their music available, According to John felt like they had come to the end of the road.
�Over a period of time,� John says, �God began to really break us and strip us of all the things that were taking us away from Him. I came to a point of brokenness where it was just like, �Okay, I want nothing but you, God.��
A friend gave him Wilkinson�s The Prayer of Jabez. John read it, prayed the prayer and believed his words fit what God desired for the band.
�We wanted God to bless us in every way that He wanted so that we could bless other people,� he says. �We knew that we could not open any doors on our own. Everything was going to have to be a miracle and we knew that.�
God began giving John, Josh, Matt and Jason a renewed vision for their ministry. John created a praise chorus for his youth group. Though the lyrics were incredibly simple, and he took the song to church without any recorded music, it seemed like God was instrumental in its production.
�It was a supernatural experience,� he says. �It was obvious. There are certain songs that God will lay into your lap every now and then that are just timeless. No matter how many years you play them, they are always new and they always make an impact. This song had that kind of anointing on it.�
According to John�s faith was being stretched, for after performing the piece that night, the band allowed the recording to circulate for free. News traveled fast. �Song of Jabez� was heard on the July 26, 2001 Focus on the Family daily broadcast and climbed to number three on inspirational charts. Quite an accomplishment for a relatively unknown band from Georgia.
While some have been skeptical of the Jabez prayer appearing selfish, Jason, the lead guitarist, looks at it a different way.
�If you are truly praying the prayer of Jabez, then you are not asking for anything in particular, you�re just asking for whatever God wants to give you. It�s asking for God�s best.�
This is just what According to John is getting. And their hope is that this song will encourage others to seek and pray, expecting that God will bless them.
Thanks:
Carol Steffes is Focus on the Family's broadcast Web editor.
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