There is a wonderful prayer nestled in a neglected book of the Bible as we enter into a New year. The Jabez prayer can be found in 1 Chronicles 4:10:

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So, God granted him what he requested.

I like that prayer; it is a prayer of hope. And it leads me to wonder what might be still unfinished in your life and mine. What would blessing look like for you? What would enlarge my territory and influence look like for you? What would it take for us to know with clarity that God really is with us?

Maybe you want to see your kids or grandkids grow up and flourish, or maybe you want to be present at someone’s wedding, or maybe it is to finish that work of art, or draft that book, or go on that once in a lifetime holiday. Or maybe even something more at home such as finally seeing the family reconcile.

I like Jabez’ prayer of hope but am also aware that in the fantasy of what is left unsaid and unfinished in our lives there is also a real danger in missing the richness of the present-to miss the moment here and now. This person who smiled at me today, this hug received from my daughter, this bottle of refreshment, this meal, this cup of tea.

As you go into the New year may you be blessed with the balance to hope and dream but also with the wisdom of knowing that this is the day that the Lord has made and so let us be glad and rejoice in it. God bless. Brian