Jabez, the one whose name means "he causes sorrow" was born into a time of sorrow and pain. He dared to defy the way he was defined and cried out to God to bless him, enlarge his territory, protect him from evil and to have God's hand with him. Have you ever prayed like Jabez? Have you defied the way you are defined by others, dared to look beyond your circumstances and dared to reach out to God to change you and bless you beyond all you can think and imagine? It's time to pray like Jabez did.

The Gap - a breach or distance between God and the ones who do not know Him as Lord and Savior. Throughout the ages God has consistently sought for the prophets and people of old to "stand" in that gap and plead for the souls of those who do not know Him. The prophets Moses, Daniel, Ezra sought mercy from God for the lawless. Are you standing in the gap? Are you pleading for the souls of those around you, even in your family?

Have you cried out to God and He seems to be absent? Have you travailed in prayer only to watch the situation you are in get worse? Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus knew how you felt when Jesus delayed while their brother was sick and eventually died. But Jesus had His reasons, and His perfect timing led to Mary, Martha and Lazarus receiving an even greater miracle. Might God be doing the same for you? Might your answer delayed be leading to even greater power displayed in a miracle you will receive beyond your greatest expectations?

Jesus marveled at the faith of a Roman Centurion, one who should have known nothing about the God of the Bible. Yet this faith so moved Jesus that a miracle was performed without Jesus ever seeing this man or vice versa. Why did this Roman centurion have so much faith, that he knew that Jesus need only say the word and a miracle would occur? Have you sent for Jesus? Have you asked him to simply speak into your life and to the circumstances you face?

The prophet Daniel, overwhelmed and in desperate need of an answer from God, committed himself to fasting and prayer. The results were supernatural, peeling back the curtain and giving us a glimpse of the spiritual battle that wages on. Are you overwhelmed? are you in desperate need of an answer from God? Are you at the end of your rope, waiting with seemingly no end in site? Then you may be on the verge of a victory, and catch a glimpse of Jesus in the battle, sending an answer to your prayers.

There are many battles recorded in the Bible, but perhaps one of the greatest occurred by the Brook of Jabbok one night, a divine wrestling match, fought between Jacob and God Himself. The stakes were far greater than any plot of land or material blessing; what God was after was far greater. He is after the same thing in your life. Don't despise wrestling matches with a Holy God, they are for your good and His glory.

We are commanded to pray, and the Word of God gives specific instructions around how we are to pray and tells us explicitly the prayer that God hears and answers. Have you been seeking Him? Are you burdened down and need to desperately hear from God? Open up His Word and learn exactly what Prayer God answers.

Jesus instructed the crowd to Ask, Seek, and Knock. Each of these actions carries a responsibility on our part. Are you asking God, searching His heart and patiently knocking at His door with full expectation that an answer is on its way?

An unjust judge, and a poor widow with no hope of getting her case heard. But her case is heard because of her relentless pursuit of the judge.

How much more will God the father, the righteous judge and king, hear the cries of His children!!! Are the children of God, those who belong to Him, desperate enough to cry out to God with persistence and seek the answers they so desperately need?