Plenty be found within our borders

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that thou wouldst bless me and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldst keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me!” And God granted what he asked. (1Ch 4:10 RSV)

Plenty is a result of blessing. And God is the author of blessing. Jabez was a man born in pain, a man named pain. But one day he arose and called on the God of Israel, he called on the God of all creation; the only one who could turn around his situation, change his name and bless him.

We pray to the God of all creation every time we sing the Kenya National Anthem (consciously or unconsciously). And one of the things we ask of Him and from Him just like Jabez is a very specific blessing: may plenty be found within our borders. Plenty of food, plenty of peace, plenty of unity, plenty of love, plenty of liberty, plenty of justice, plenty of the fear of God, plenty of opportunities to make wealth, plenty of health: May plenty be found within our borders. In the same breathe we ask that He removes away from us harm, that it might not hurt us. We ask for plenty because in one way or another we have known lack, and we did not like it. We ask for plenty from the God of all creation because when we knew/faced lack, He alone came through and brought abundance our way. So we ask Him in confidence and boldness: Plenty be found within our borders.

Prayer:

O God of all creation, may plenty be found within our borders. And God, we ask not just of the physical plenty that ensures we our stomachs are satisfied, we live in peace and prosperity but most important eternal plenty. May the knowledge of God be plenty in our land, may the fear of God be plenty in our land, may the children of God – those called by His Name – be plenty in our land. In Jesus Name, Amen!