Breaking Through
The Jabez Breakthrough
Sometimes a BREAKTRHOUGH comes after the biggest breakdown of your life.
Hang in there!
We all love to read stories about men and women who overcame hardship and went on to
bless others, and even more, we can be encouraged to know that God can even use difficult
things in our lives for His purpose and glory. Reading the first 10 verses of 1st Chronicles chapter 4,
you will read a list of names that most of us haven't even encountered before. However, the
writer of the book paused in the names and gave us a man named Jabez, a descendant of
Judah, who was “more honorable than his brothers” (v. 9). Jabez was held in high esteem by the
Lord because of his ability to rely on God even in the midst of struggle and pain. In his prayer,
Jabez asks God to “bless” him, “keep” him, and “free” him; he even asks God to extend his
border. His prayer is meant to exemplify the power and greatness of God. Jabez shows us that
the name we are given or the circumstances we are born into do not define us or determine our
destiny.
Welcome to our 2024 THANKSGIVING! Every year we set a side and dedicate a month for us as a
church family, ONE HIS LIFE, to give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ for who He is and
for what He has done for us. We are encouraged to remember His faithfulness, counting all our
blessings and giving us the opportunity to express it by giving the best that we give back through
our praise and thanksgivings to God. In this Thanksgiving celebration, join us as we explore the
life of a man named Jabez, who did not allow his circumstances to ask God for a
BREAKTHROUGH so that it could be a blessing to others.
21-Day Reading
To further understand and appreciate our daily readings, we divided them into three groups
according to their main points and for emphasis.
AN HONORED LIFE, HONORS GOD. The first seven readings will challenge us to live a life that
honors God. Let other people know that they are more honorable than others by being
passionate about loving and serving God. You may be surrounded by people, but you stand out
among the rest.
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT DEFINE YOU The next seven readings will remind you that,
whatever situation you are born into, be it being poor, handicapped, or struggling with past
hurts, pains, or failures, it’s time to believe in bigger things. It’s time for an increase, time for
promotion, and time for supernatural favor.
TAKING ACTION ASKING GOD FOR MORE. Lastly, the last seven readings will challenge us to trust
God and believe that He alone provides, therefore enabling us to give praise and thanksgiving.
This last 7-day reading will also encourage us to give the best that we can to God, who loves us
and makes our territory large.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave
birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and
enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free
from pain.” And God granted his request.
From your HLM Pastors!
WEEK 1
AN HONORED LIFE, HONORS GOD
“As God’s chosen, blessed sons and daughters, we are expected to attempt something large
enough that failure is guaranteed...unless God steps in.”
― Bruce H. Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
DAY 01 Jabez: The Man Who Stood Out In a Crowd
1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.
Even though we may be surrounded by friends and other people, it’s still possible to feel
completely alone. On our part, there are several reasons for this feeling of aloneness. Maybe we
feel disconnected from those around us, or maybe we feel scared that they don’t or won’t
understand what we are going through. Humans have a need to feel connected to other
people; no one can meet all of our needs on their own. But how about being lost in the crowd,
when nobody really cares if you are there or not? Deep inside, we want to be counted and
noticed.
In order to provide us with these insights concerning Jabez, the writer of the genealogy of
Judah, pause for a while and expound on the life of this one man. His relationship with God had
to be unusually remarkable. Though the writer of Chronicles used this list of names to show how
God has chosen Israel for a prominent role in history, for us modern readers, this list is just names
of people or the crowd that we may not remember except Jabez who stood out among the
crowd. “He is more honorable than his brothers.”
Standing out of the crowd to follow Jesus is not easy because not following the mass would
mean that everyone else would be against you. Jabez can keep quiet and be part of a
number, but "then he "called on the God of Israel," knowing that he could only depend on the
Lord to be delivered from the prophecy of his name pain and the curse of sin.
Psalm 139:14 NIV
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Things to Reflect
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Have you ever been lost in the crowd because of insecurity and shame? Can you write
down your experience?
2. Share your thoughts on this quote: "Those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it."
Pastor Rick Warren.
3. Take some time right now to thank God for the common and the amazing blessings in
your life.
4. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
SEE GOD'S OWNERSHIP
Colossians 1:16-17
16” For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11” Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are
exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
Day 02 Living Above Average
1 Chronicles 4:9a NIV
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.
Have you considered being called average a compliment? I hope not, because that means
you’re just as close to the bottom—not even in the middle—as you are to the top. And God
never intended for you to be average. In our society, excellence has become a goal to obtain,
a test score to achieve, a set of rules to follow, or a value to have. But is there a standard for
excellence?
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, assuming that his brothers were also honorable’
well known in the area of excellence (we can only speculate). Jabez was an honorable man
not because of what he owned and not because of his social status, but because he was a
man of faith, a man of prayer, and a man of service.
God desires quality work produced through the application of our faith, our message, our
knowledge of God, our eagerness to let Him know, and our love for others. Paul modeled
excellence in everything he did, from tent making to church planting to writing. He was
intentional and focused on serving Christ to the best of his ability. Nothing less than the best
would suffice, so he pressed toward the mark with all his might. We must model excellence. We
must fully apply our knowledge and skills to the tasks put before us. In that way, we will bring
glory to God and increase our influence, credibility, and reputation among those with whom we
work. Excellent work is an act of worship.
1st Timothy 3:13
"Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great
assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus."
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Why does it matter that our words and deeds glorify Christ, considering these readings
about excellence?
2. To what extent does our vocation reflect Jesus Christ as we do it with excellence?
3. Share your thoughts about your personal understanding of excellence. And pray it
together with your group.
4. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
YOUR ROLE IS TO BE THE TRUSTEE, MANAGER AND STEWARD OF 100% OF
WHAT GOD ENTRUSTS TO YOU DURING YOUR LIFETIME.
Colossians 3:17, 23-24
“Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus....Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive
an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
1 Corinthians 4:2
” It is required in stewards that a man is found faithful”
DAY 03 Deflecting Name- Calling
1 Chronicles 4:9b
“His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
Name-calling is common and can be done for several different reasons. By calling you names,
someone may be attempting to be funny, to engage you in a conversation, or to see what you
will do and how you will react, or to put you down and hurt your feelings.
The author of the Book of Chronicles tells us that his mother gave him this name since he was
born in pain. His name comes from a Hebrew term that sounds like pain, meant to foresee a life
of suffering for him. So, "Jabez sees only impossibility before him—a future shut off—weighed
down by the sorrow of his past and the misery of his present." Many think that Jabez will just sit it
out for the rest of his life, but the name-calling is wrong, Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, that
He would bless him and even enlarge his influence.
Do not feel pressured to respond right away. Be kind to yourself. Acknowledge you’re hurt,
remind yourself that you are not alone, and do not buy into the name-calling. Tell yourself of the
grace and love of God, and take good care of yourself. Jabez deflected his prophesied name,
"pain,” and believed in God, who gave him life and purpose, God still in the business of
changing us new name for His glory.
John 1:42 NIV
And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will
be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Do you have any experience with name-calling? How does it affect you?
2. Have you ever been influenced by someone who was calling you names? In what way?
3. Share your thoughts on this quote” Name-calling has 100% more to do with you than it
has to do with the person you are calling a name.”
4. Pray for freedom that comes from the name of Jesus for you and ask God to set you free
from insecurity.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
SEE GOD’S PROVISION
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11” Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are
exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
DAY 04 Rescued from Pain
His mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”
What exactly the pain is not revealed to us. That has some beauty to it. Such unspecific suffering
encourages us, whatever our own suffering may be, to imitate Jabez. Whatever the cause,
Jabez had a difficult start to life. However, it doesn't seem like he let it get to him or accepted his
victim status. He also didn't try to make up for it by using his own strength and willpower. Instead,
he prayed to God, "calling upon the God of Israel, Jabez turned his attention and his faith in the
right direction.
Indeed, God is a savior. He doesn't guarantee that his people will never experience pain and
suffering, but when we do, he takes great pleasure in pulling us out of it, and most importantly,
that is in accordance with His timetable not from ours. While many rescues may take time, some
happen immediately. Many of the well-known saints both in the Bible and in real life have
suffered greatly throughout their whole lifetimes on earth.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What are healthy responses to despair in our lives? What are unhealthy responses?
2. In what ways can we challenge our assumptions about suffering and God?
3. Pray that people in your group will understand that pain in life does not defined you but
the healing power of God and the assurance that you are love,
4. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GRACIOUS ACT OF GIVING
Deuteronomy 15:10
“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your
God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
DAY 05 Only God Can
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,
Only God can. Jabez cried out to the only God that can save him. This address is directing you
to the one and only one who can make things happen for you, your family, and your situation.
As you know, God is able. If you read the passage carefully, you will notice that this is the prayer
that started with the statement that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and this will
help you understand that God wants you to be rooted in Him first for you to understand “how
wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” for you.
This is the first step that will help you offer thanks, giving praise to Him who is able to do
exceedingly beyond what we think or even imagine. We should always be expressing
thankfulness. Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine, not reserved only
for celebrations. Praise God continually, and you will find that you won’t take His blessings for
granted.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. In what ways do you feel God at work in your life right now? In what ways would you like
to?
2. Where do you see the Lord providing in your life?
3. What do you do when you are at the end of your rope? What are your feelings?
4. Pray with confidence that there are always hope for those who trust the Lord and not to
themselves.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
DON’T BECOME PRIDEFUL ABOUT ANYTHING GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOU.
Deuteronomy 8:11-14
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God... Otherwise, when you eat and are
satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow
large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will
become proud and you will forget the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth
for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce
wealth.”
.
Day 06 Live to be Different
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel,
In the first nine chapters of this book, you can read a genealogy of over 600 names that started
from Adam to Hanan, but in the middle of these names, God singled out one man for special
recognition, and his name is Jabez. In just only two verses, he was given an honorable mention
above all people. Why? Jabez prayed to God to be blessed, to enlarge his territory, and to keep
him from harm so that he would be free from pain. And God granted his request.
There are three principles that we can learn from the life of Jabez that can help us to live
differently from the rest, we will read and deal with these for the next three days of our reading.
But today we will look for the first principle and that is "JABEZ HAS A GREAT AMBITION". Jabez
cried out to God that he wanted something big; he wanted to expand and have something
significant in his life. He didn't want to be ordinary, common, or just a name to be read and
passed by. He has a great ambition for the glory of God.
It is necessary to have a desire or purpose to work for; without one, you are just aimlessly floating
through life. God has a purpose for your life, and the secret to success is to find it. As the well-
known saying goes, "If you stop dreaming, you start dying." that you have been given by God.
God never wanted you to approach life halfheartedly, wondering where you're headed and
what you should do. God desires that you live His life.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. In what was have you seen God’s love and kindness in your life?
2. How can you trust the providence of God in the midst of “everything going wrong”?
3. How do we know that God is at work? Can we know? Why or why not?
4. Pray for a vision larger than what you have today. Ask God to open your eyes to His plan
for you and your family.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GOD GAVE US THE SEED TO PLANT AND PROSPER
Luke 6:38
38 Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Proverbs 19:17
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.
DAY 07 Confusing Contentment with Laziness
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!
After reading that Jabez has great ambition, the second principle is to help us live differently
from the rest, is NOT CONFUSING CONTENTMENT WITH LAZINESS. It is true that the Apostle Paul
said, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." (Phil. 4:11). But this does not
mean that you should not set any goals. Jabez did not focus on his given situation or name and
decided to live without goals or a future. He was saying that despite all this, I have dreams and
ambitions that only God can make it through.
Most of us think that contentment is for lazy people who settle for mediocrity. That's not true,
because the difference between being lazy and feeling content is work. In order to feel happy
or satisfied, you must do something. You must try something. Contentment is not something that
simply lands in your lap. Have you ever made a plan and cried out to God and said, Lord, in
Jesus Name, bless me and grant me favor? Now may be the time!
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. How would you describe the word "contentment" to someone?
2. Where is life found? Where do you see yourself wanting to find abundance or security?
3. How can contentment be increased in your life? What steps would it take to get there?
4. Pray that you will learn to appreciate what you have today and ask God to lead for
more.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WORK
Deuteronomy 15:10
“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your
God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth
for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce
wealth.”
WEEK 2
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT DEFINE YOU
Most of us think our lives are too full already. But when, in faith, you start to pray for more ministry,
amazing things occur. As your opportunities expand, your ability and resources supernaturally
increase, too. Right away you’ll sense the pleasure God feels in your request and His urgency to
accomplish great things through you.”
Bruce H. Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
DAY 08 Growing in Faith
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!
After reading and meditating on our last-week reading series, let us talk about the third principle
of Jabez faith, which is Jabez, grows in his faith in the one and only God who knows and
understands his dreams and goals. Not only does Jabez have great ambition, but he also has
deep trust and belief in God. Jabez had enough faith to pray and expect God to answer. As
William Carey once said, "Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God." Notice
that the author did not mention that Jabez has special abilities, talents, or gifts. It did not even
say if Jabez is a wealthy or learned person, so we can judge that he is just an ordinary man with
an extraordinary faith.
Some Bible scholars even say that Jabez is handicapped because his name, Jabez, means
"painful" in Hebrew. Remember from our last reading that Jabez's mother named him Painful
because he caused her so much grief? Despite his painful past, Jabez had the faith to look
forward and strive for great things in the future. What is stopping you from dreaming big and
moving forward for God? Start your day with faith and expectancy, and then go out
anticipating good things. Expect circumstances to change in your favor.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What are healthy responses to other people’s pain? What are unhealthy responses?
2. Who or what do we usually blame for the pain in our lives? Maybe the pain in the world?
3. Does what you consume with your eyes play a role in your general emotions or
anxiousness?
4. Pray that you will grow in faith so that you will see what God has in store for you and be
challenged by it.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
THE MORE YOU WITHHOLD, THE MORE YOU LOSE IT
Proverbs 11:24–25
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only
suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be
watered.”
Luke 6:38 ESV
"Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,
will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Day 09 Expanding your Influence
1 Chronicles 4:10
“Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
Jabez prays, "That Your (God’s) hand would be with me," in the third line. After asking God for
more influence and blessings to help others and for better blessings to bless others, Jabez
understands he needs God's guidance to live justly and wisely. Indeed, the beneficiary of
greater gifts and authority may find them to be corrupting or even distracting. Recognizing this
danger, Jabez asks for God's direction in his third prayer.
In Isaiah 54:2, it says, “Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch your tent curtains wide; do not hold
back; lengthen your cords; strengthen your stakes. The context here is that Isaiah compares
Israel to a barren, desolate woman. God spoke through his servant, Isaiah, to plant God's hope
in the hearts of hopeless and despairing people. God is a God of mercy and forgiveness.
Furthermore, God still had a purpose and a plan for his people, even though their situation
seemed hopeless. God has given you the same mission to touch the hearts of others, and you
can only do this if you ask God to guide you and let His hands be upon you. You are blessed to
be a blessing. Just as Jabez modeled for us, Ask God that His hand would be with you.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Who is the most influential person in your life? How did that person affect you, and in
what way?
2. What area of influence is God calling you to? School, office, ministry? Rate yourself. How
is your influence felt?
3. Does your personality or name have a heavy influence on your life? Why or why not?
4. Pray to make a greater impact. I want the Lord to enlarge my border.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
WEALTH AND HONOR COME FROM GOD
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11” Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are
exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
Day 10 Blessings from the Hands of God
1 Chronicles 4:10
“Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
Many Christians in today's world desire God's promises and blessings without having to submit to
God's will. But we must examine ourselves in the light of God's word and live by it if we are to be
truly happy and content. Jabez prayed that the hand of God be upon him and keep him from
harm so that he would be free from what his mother’s named him pain. He wants to be blessed
but is also careful that these blessings will not lead to forgetting God, the source of the blessings.
Sometimes blessings turn out to be a curse to us in that we make idols of them. Having
something that is in one sense a blessing (such as family, salvation, wealth, fame, health, or
security), but yet because of fundamental dissatisfaction in life, it turns into a burden. We ask to
be blessed, and when God grants it, it becomes an excuse to be busy and, in turn, gives God
our shallow service. Jabez knows this, and we see the great wisdom of Jabez’s prayer: he wants
God's hand to be upon him, to sustain him. The last thing we know about Jabez is that God
heard and granted his request to live a life free from despair. Jabez's fervent request for a
blessing was granted. Jabez's achievements were greater than the tragedy of his origins. Jabez's
name was overcome by his prayer.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. In what ways do you feel God at work in your life right now? In what ways would you like
to?
2. Where do you see the Lord blessing your life? How are you doing lately?
3. Have you ever experienced praying to be blessed, and it makes you so busy with the
blessings that God has given you that you make it an excuse to serve Him and be a
blessing to others?
4. Pray that you will not focus on blessings and that any blessings we receive will not be a
hindrance to serving God.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
BEING A CHEERFUL GIVER
2 Corinthians 9:7-8
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having
all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Day 11 Stop playing it Safe
1 Chronicles 4:10
“... Keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request."
Life involves both risk and opportunity. Risk-taking is one of the most important factors in fulfilling
one’s goal and becoming an effective achiever. Because life has no guarantees, we must be
prepared. And just because life is uncertain does not mean we should do nothing. We need a
spirit of trust and adventure, facing life’s risks and opportunities with God-directed enthusiasm
and faith. Solomon once said, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything
done. Be sure to stay busy and plant a variety of crops, for you never know which will grow;
perhaps they all will.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4, 6)
Quoting from John Maxwell: "Every great undertaking is hindered by the need for a secure,
worry-free atmosphere; however, the reality is that taking chances is necessary for a leader to
succeed.” There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth exploring, as they say. Therefore, real trust
can only be formed when we answer God's call and take a chance. This is because when we
take a chance, we discover that God is able to provide for our needs and overcome our
limitations. Jabez trusted that God would bless him and would not only deliver him from pain but
also provide him with more, so he asked for an extension of his border. He is a risk-taker by faith.
Fear will cause you to miss the best thing God wants to do with you. The basic reason why we
don’t take risks when God asks us to do something involves all kinds of fears born out of a lack of
trust in God. You must be confident in following God’s will. And you must be confident that God
does not want you to fail.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What is it that keeps you from moving forward?
2. Is it the fear of failure, embarrassment, or rejection?
3. Is it the uncertainty of the outcome that stops you?
4. Pray that you may examine your heart in the area of trusting God to expand your
coverage, be promoted and ask God to take your worries and doubt about risk-taking.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
A SACRIFICE OF GRATITUDE
Psalm 50:23
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”
Psalm 107:1
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Day 12 Greater Things Ahead
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let
your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God
granted his request."
Jabez knew in his heart that it was God who controlled the events of his life, not him, so he
focused on God. One of the greatest gifts that God has given us is the freedom to make a
choice. Like Jabez, he can choose to stay in his designated name "pain" and live with it, or he
can ask God to bless him and have it more and thank God he did. Often, when we say, we trust
God that He is in control, but in reality, we try to fix and control things ourselves. Our trust in God
becomes nothing but a statement we feel we should say rather than what we are actually living
out.
Have you ever thought that you've already reached your limit in life? Because of this, you may
have assumed that you’ve already peaked, that you’ve reached your limits in life, and that you
will never be more successful. Basically, this statement is true unless you are willing to trust God
that He has more for you. Pastor Charles Swindoll said, “More than our desire to be successful,
God loves us so much that He wants us to be successful and to have a fruitful life. He wants us to
grow and to experience more. "Do you envision your business taking off, your marriage restored,
your family prospering, and your dream coming to pass? Seeing greater things ahead in the
favor of God!
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. We have read many questions with in our reading, try to revisit it and answer it yourself
and share it to your Life Group team next meeting.
2. Again, just like from our previous reading (Day 11) Pray that you may examine your heart
in the area of trusting God to expand your coverage, be promoted and ask God to take
your worries and doubt about risk-taking.
3. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GOD ALONE BELONGS THE GLORY
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11” Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are
exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
Romans 14:7-8
“None of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.”
” It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful”
Day 13 God wants you to Succeed
1 Chronicles 4:10
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let
your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God
granted his request."
It is natural for a man to desire success or to be successful, and it is good because our God is a
God of success. When He does something or plans something, He wants it to accomplish its
purpose. And as we are created in the image of God, He wants us to be successful in everything
He desires us to have and do. As Pastor Charles Swindoll wrote, “More than our desire to be
successful, God loves us so much that He wants us to be successful and to have a fruitful life. He
wants us to grow and experience more.” But often times we measure our worth on the basis of
how successful we are and our measurement of success is often based on a worldly standard
rather than a godly standard.
The Life Application Commentary gave us the cause of failed success when it said that “true
success that comes from God is killed by our attraction to worldly things. When we lust for
money, position, power, or fame, we will be tempted to spend our energies to get these things,
and that will take us away from a pursuit of God.” When Jabez prayed for an increased on his
territory, it meant to increase, expand, or add on. So when God adds to your territory, it is going
to be something new—an unfamiliar land. It will be something you haven't seen before, and this
is exciting because this is where you will call upon the Lord for guidance and direction. God truly
wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can
mean personal influence and/or physical territories. It is rare to have a life without pain. Pain is
often necessary to mold us and shape us. “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!
Let your hand be with me,
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. How often are you fearful or worried about the future? How does your faith in Jesus help
with this?
2. Do your actions draw attention to God or to you? What might you change?
3. In what areas would you love to see your faith grow?
4. Pray for boldness to see far beyond your comfort zone and ask God to expand your
heart to help others on mission.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
EXTENDING YOUR GIFTS
Matthew 6:2-4
“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have
received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will
reward you.
James 2:15-16
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body,
what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Day 14 Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
1 Chronicles 4:10
“And God granted his (Jabez’s) request.”
Follow the calling on your life that you feel God has given you. Participate actively in the
ministry. Don't remain inactive. Let go of any fear, age, time, talent, or other excuses and step
forth in faith—not necessarily in the hope that your efforts will be successful, but in the hope that
God will accept your offering and utilize it for His glory. The author Solomon cautions his readers
against idleness in Ecclesiastes 11:4. "He who watches the wind will not plant, and he who stares
at the clouds will not reap." When it comes to business or agriculture, people sometimes pass up
possibilities because they wait for the perfect circumstances before acting. Rather than
watching the wind and the clouds, rather than watching the potential obstacles and difficulties,
rather than waiting for the ideal time, do what you can with what God has given you in your life.
As Christians, we too go through wonderful and difficult seasons; our relationship with Christ and
our involvement in ministry both have ups and downs. God understands that we might go
through times of huge gain or great loss. We may feel great joy or enormous pain. The most
amazing thing, though, is that God can use every season and experience we have to create
something wonderful. Just believe in God and don't follow the wind. "God heard Jabez's plea
because of his faith, and God granted his request.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–11 and meditate on it. How will you apply it to your daily walk?
2. Think of a time when you went through a difficult season and, looking back, saw God's
hand during that time.
3. Are you working so hard that you fail to appreciate what you have right now and give
thanks to God?
4. Take some time to intentionally count what God has blessed you with and turn it into
thanksgiving.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GIVING FREELY
PROVERBS 11:24–25
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only
suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be
watered.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
“The Lord says, “Let not the...rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about
this: that he understands and knows me.”
WEEK 3
GOD WANT YOU TO INCREASE
By now, we know that you have already memorized the two verses in 1 Chronicles 4:9–10; we
have extensively used them for the past 14 readings, and we hope that we are exhausted
enough for you to understand and believe that what our past or even other people prophecies
about us do not define us, but God alone knows you and is very much convinced that He has a
plan for your life. As we enter the last 7 day reading, we pray that you will prepare your heart to
give the thanks that you can give to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Your Father knows your gifts, your hindrances, and the condition you're in at every moment.
And He also knows something you can't possibly know--every single person who's in desperate
need of receiving His touch through you.”
Bruce H. Wilkinson, The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
Day 15 Live It Out
1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
‘Rejoice Always, Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.
God gave us the very encouraging instruction to "rejoice always" through the apostle Paul, but
how can you rejoice always when there are moments when you wonder why you should
rejoice? You've been living in a circle for months or even years; life hasn't been fair to you, so
why should I be happy? You have to have joy even when things are not going well. But what do
you know? Every scripture has wonderful news to share. God desires that we pray to him, be
content, and never stop being grateful for everything that has come our way.
Give thanks for your life today. There's always something to be grateful for about being alive:
hope exists where life does. There is hope for tomorrow, for improving oneself, and for
accomplishing more. You have to come to accept this hope, and now when you're feeling low,
just remember to pray and be joyful because that's what God wants from you. Give thanks in
every situation and have faith in God, no matter what you are going through or how difficult you
feel the life is becoming. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you will find happiness when you
walk with God under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What are you thankful for today?
2. How can we rejoice always, even when things aren't going well or according to plan?
3. How can you improve your prayer life in the coming year?
4. How can we give thanks in everything?
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GRACIOUS ACT OF GIVING
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
11” Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the
splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are
exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
2 Corinthians 8:12
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,
not according to what he does not have”.
Day 16 Give Thanks in All Circumstance
1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
‘Rejoice Always, Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.
Using the same scripture that we used yesterday, we are giving you another perspective that is,
“giving thanks in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.” When is the best time to express gratitude? When
everything is going fine, correct? It may be simpler to give thanks to God when you are at your
most joyful and most at ease, but giving thanks to God during difficult times is equally, if not
more, important. In today's passage, we are commanded to be joyful at all times and to express
gratitude for everything. Doing this can be challenging, particularly if things aren't going well.
God invites us to live a life of continuous gratitude. God desires that we express our thankfulness
to him.
In Colossians 3:17 it says, “And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” We still have power over the things
we say and do, regardless of how we are feeling at the time. We ought to take advantage of
this to refocus our lives on God. How someone handles difficulties is one of their key
characteristics as a Christian. Christians differentiate themselves from the rest of the world by
focusing on God rather than the world, raising their own spirits in the process, finding the positive
in each situation, giving thanks, and seeing the bright side in dark times.
In light of this, this Thanksgiving, whether you get caught up by the blessings in your life or are
finding it difficult to find anything for which to be grateful, turn to God. He is the one who
provides you with grace and salvation on a daily basis and who longs for you to give Him thanks
even in the midst of your suffering. Trust in Him and His perfect plan for your life, both now and in
the future.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Why is gratitude important? What has that looked like this week for you? Did you
practice gratitude?
2. What does it look like to be more thankful in any given situation? How would you rank
your gratitude currently?
3. How are Thanksgiving and generosity related?
4. Pray that you will see difficulties as a blessing to grow and mature in your Christian walk,
and thank God that He will see you through it.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
EXCEL IN THE AREA OF GIVING
2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV
7 “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness
and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
Day 17 God Never Fails to Provide
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop
fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the
stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Just like the spirit of our last reading, giving thanks even in the middle of difficulties, sometimes
we ask, If God is my provider, why should I doubt? Imagine how the disciples felt, even after they
had given Jesus five loaves of bread and two fish, when the Lord Jesus asked them to feed the
5000 men—not including the women and children? (John 6:1–15). All they saw was one small
lunch versus one large mass of people, and they were unable to see how He would feed them.
"It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each person to have a
bite," Philip said. (NIV) John 6:7. How? We often look at our circumstances in the same way. It
doesn't add up when you have expenses on one hand and an empty bank account on the
other. We know the Lord Jesus can do miracles because we have witnessed or heard of His past
work in people's lives. However, you fail to see how you say things about yourself.
Giving thanks is a joyful act, not because of what God gives, but because He is the giver. We
are joyful because of who He is, not because of what we own, and offering gratitude helps us
see more of Him. Habakkuk, the prophet, likewise had difficulty understanding God's providence
in his life. He protested, argued, and wrestled things out with God. When all was lost, he gave up
and declared, "Even if it seems hopeless or bad, I will choose to celebrate in the LORD; I will
choose to shout with joy in the [victory] God of my salvation!" Thanksgiving is a proactive rather
than a reactive action. Habakkuk decided to celebrate. When there was nothing, he choose to
express gratitude and put his trust in God for something. He was aware of the source of
everything, just like Jesus. We could not see the HOW for a moment, but we could see the WHO
and that is faith.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Are your prayers full of thanksgiving? If not, have you prayed for a thankful heart?
2. What are some practical ways you could remind yourself daily of the hope we have in
Christ?
3. In what areas are you allowing things like bills and other needs to surpass God in your
life?
4. Pray that you will hold on to the promises of God that He cares, even if things seem
impossible.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
EVERYBODY JOINED IN
2 Chronicles 31:5, 12
“The people responded immediately and generously with the first of their crops and grain, new
wine, olive oil, money, and everything else...a tithe of all they owned. They faithfully brought in
the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts.”
Day 18 Thanksgiving Changes Everything
Psalm 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
You will notice when you read David's Psalms, especially Psalms 42, 57, and 62, that he
complained about his situation, his fear of his enemies, and other things. However, David almost
always gives thanks to God for what He has done and praises Him for who He is about halfway
through his intense expressions of sadness or sorrow. Suddenly, David feels better than ever! After
all, life isn't so bad! As his view of God deepens, his concerns become less significant, and he
starts to see God's beauty rising from the circumstances.
As Dr. Harold J. Sala of “Guidelines for Living” once wrote, "There is always a light at the end of
the tunnel." Praising God for what He is and what He has done allows us to realize He is the light
at the end of the tunnel, and nothing can obscure that when we stay focused on Him. This turns
despair into hope—something you can learn for yourself. David didn't wait giving thanks to God
until He changed his circumstances, addressed his problem, or gave him comfort. Note that our
perspective will change as well when we give up complaining and start expressing our
thanksgiving. As they said, you may not have control over your circumstances, but you have
control over how you will react to them. Will you complain and be angry, or will you turn to God
with thanksgiving in your heart?
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What is the biggest struggle in your life right now?
2. What random acts of kindness have you received this year?
3. How do you stay focused on gratitude throughout the year?
4. Pray that you will learn to give thanks to God even in a difficult situation, believing that
there is always bright hope in the future.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
GOD IS THE SOURCE
Deuteronomy 8:11-14
“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God... Otherwise, when you eat and are
satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow
large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will
become proud and you will forget the LORD your God.”
Day 19 Experience It Yourself
Psalm 23:1 and 4
1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing... 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will
fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
An ancient story tells of a young traveler who encountered an old man at the edge of a forest.
Staring into the darkness of the overgrown plants in front of him, the young man asked his elder,
“Can you tell me the best way through this forest? The wise old man replied, “I cannot.” The
young man asked, “But haven’t you lived here for a while? Surely you have been in the forest
many times.” "Yes," the old man said, “and I can tell you all of the pitfalls and dangers I have
encountered. I can tell you which paths not to take. But I have never been all the way through
the forest. That is something you must experience for yourself.”
We run into a variety of issues every day that others may have dealt with before us. Even though
it is a good idea to seek advice in these kinds of situations, the reality is that each set of issues
has its own unique turns and turns. Though we can learn from one another's and our own failures,
every situation is different, and the finest counsel we receive from others may very well fall into
the category of things "not to do." In the end, though, the answer to our particular and new
problem will be fresh and new. Therefore, it is important that we seek the Lord's guidance at all
times and specifically ask for it when we have needs, concerns, or problems. He is aware of the
specific solution for each unique situation we find ourselves in. The only one who can guide us
toward the right course of action is the Lord.
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. What did God reveal to you through this reading?
2. What are the three things that always make you smile?
3. What is one thing you would like to accomplish in the coming year?
4. Pray that as we walk with Jesus as my shepherd, I will learn to trust Him all the way
through the forest of life.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
IT ALL COME FROM GOD
1 Chronicles 29:14
14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?
Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
Day 20 Being Thankful for the Call
1st Timothy 1:12-14 NIV
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy,
appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a
violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our
Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul knew that the greatest gift of all is the gift of salvation in and through Jesus
Christ! That’s why his words to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, start with the statement, “How
thankful I am..." How often do you think about the greatness of Jesus’ gift of salvation in your
life? As you go about the day, do you pause to consider that Jesus—the only Son of the living
God of the universe—came to earth to die on the cross so that you and I could receive the gift
of salvation? While some of the common, everyday blessings of life may be easy to overlook or
take for granted, how can we take for granted what Jesus has done for us? And yet, in the
“busyness” of the day, or in the distractedness of the day, we do forget to be thankful for the
greatest gift of all! Paul recognized that Jesus’ gift of salvation came to him, although he didn’t
deserve it in the least. In fact, Paul tells us that he used to “hunt down” God’s people and “harm
them in every way” he could. Nevertheless, God had mercy on Paul, and not only that, but He
used Paul to spread the good news of Jesus throughout the known world of his day.
As you go about this day, will you recognize the greatest gift of all and share it with others? After
all, once we know Jesus, the best way to say, “Thank You! “To Him is to tell others about the
greatest gift of all, too! Think for a moment about who it was that let you know about the
greatest gift of all. If you remember a specific person who was instrumental in that, why not
contact that person and let them know that you are grateful to them for sharing the greatest gift
of all with you?
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. If you could thank one person (living or dead) for his or her influence on your life, who
would you thank?
2. What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
3. Are you and your family ready for our coming thanksgiving Sunday?
4. Pray for the person who made an impact on your life as you give thanks to God for using
him or her to touch you.
5. Have a note on your phone or laptop and write down your thoughts and prayers for
today. Make it a journal with your personal questions and answers. You can share it with
your Life Group team at your next meeting.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS
Matthew 25:44-45 NIV
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing
clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you
did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Day 21 D-Day Thanksgiving
Isaiah 12:4-5 (NASB)
And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His deeds
among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." Praise the LORD in song,
for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth.
What a fitting verse to end our 21-day reading: "And on that day you will say, "Give thanks to the
LORD; call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that
His name is exalted." Thanksgiving should not just be a special calendared day in November
(though it is a special day for us here at His Life). Thanksgiving is a spiritual lifestyle lifting our heart
towards Heaven even when there are times that things are not favoring our way. Thanksgiving is
the ability to see the small light at the end of the tunnel when your circumstances seem to have
darkened. “There are two requirements to reflect about God's blessings First, a thankful
reflection, of the goodness God through our Lord Jesus; and second, a deep sense of our own
unworthiness to receive His blessings but we did received it. ;The first will make us grateful; the
second humble that leads us to a thankful heart. After exhausting the story of Jabez and having
selected scriptures in our last 7 readings for our 21 Day Reading, the conclusion is that, just
remember that the main point of this celebration is to grow in your Christian journey towards
discipleship and stewardship.
Giving thanks in reverence and honor to God.
GET READY TO GIVE!
THINGS TO DO AND REFLECT
1. Pray and review your thanksgiving gift.
2. Bring your whole family to the church and give thanks God together.
3. Prepare the best family date after the celebration.
4. Share your thanksgiving experience during our victory party.
THANKSGIVING STEWARDSHIP TIP
ALL GLORY AND THANKGIVING BELONGS TO GOD
Ephesians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly
realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
