The difference between a BREAKDOWN and a BREAKTHROUGH is–

Effective Prayer

Tucked away in the genealogies of God’s people (1 Chronicles 1.1 – 9.44), amid the hundreds of names most of us couldn’t pronounce correctly if we tried, there is a powerful lesson on effective prayer.

Jabez was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because she had such a hard time at his birth (Jabez means “Distress”).

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would wonderfully bless me and help me in my work; please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all evil and disaster!” And God granted him his request. __1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (TLB)

Don’t miss the point here. Jabez did not own the name everyone called him. Instead he went to God and asked for blessings in all he did and protection from the name he had been called. And God granted him his request.