The Prayer of Jabez

The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life is a book Bruce Wilkinson published in 2000 by Multnomah Books as the first book in the "BreakThrough" book series. It is based on the Old Testament passage (1 Chronicles 4:9-10):

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from the evil one." And God granted his request. (NIV)

In the book, Wilkinson encourages Christians to invoke this prayer for themselves on a daily basis:

The book became an international bestseller, topping the New York Times bestseller list and selling nine million copies. It received the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Gold Medallion Book of the Year award in 2001.

The popularity of the original book has led its publisher, Multnomah Press, to extend the line to a number of derivative works targeted at niche audiences, as well as to offer the books in audio and video formats. They also authorized a wide array of official "Prayer of Jabez" merchandise including key chains, mugs, backpacks, Christmas ornaments, scented candles, mouse pads and a framed artist's conception of Jabez himself. A line of jewelry was introduced in 2002.

The prayer of Jabez became very popular within sections of the fundamentalist Pentecostal Christian movement. Followers were drawn to the prayer in cult-like devotion, using it in a repetitive manner as a mantra. It was particularly evident in those churches associated with the New Apostolic Reformation, Kingdom Now theology, Dominion theology, Five-fold ministry thinking and other more extreme or fringe elements within the spirit-filled Christianity movement. Some within the movement used the prayer in an almost superstitious way, believing it to be a harbinger of prosperity, good fortune, wealth, health and happiness. It was overtly promoted by some leaders within these churches, who benefited personally and/or corporately through their religious organizations by on-selling the vast range of commercial merchandise associated with the prayer. Such leaders convinced some followers that these items of merchandise carried with them special powers attributed to the anointing of the holy spirit, and were said to be even more effective when combined with repetitive chanting of the prayer. This attracted strong criticism from some conservative Christian leaders on the grounds it encouraged a shallow, self-centred spiritual mindset, while other critics claimed that used in this way it was more reminiscent of mysticism and demonic influence.

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