“Dear reader, I want to teach you how to pray a daring prayer that God always answers.”  These words form the first sentence of this overwhelmingly popular book.  While it may be technically accurate to state that God answers every prayer, Wilkinson implies that God always answers this prayer in the way we want Him to.  As we will see, there are many more problems contained in this best-seller.

     The Prayer of Jabez is based on two short verses from 1 Chronicles (chapter 4, verses 9-10).  These two verses provide all of the information we know about this suddenly popular man.  Here is what is recorded: “Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.’  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.”

     This brief passage has spawned the incredibly successful Jabez books with all of the different versions for people of all ages. [I'm looking forward to the release of The Prayer of Jabez for thirty-something men over 6' 8".]  Why?  What is it that makes this book so popular?  I believe it is due to the sometimes subtle, sometimes not-so-subtle promises of success Wilkinson includes.  The final chapter of the book tells the reader that if he would pray this prayer every day for the next 30 days, “God will release His miraculous power in your life now.” 

     Let’s examine that for a bit because it is the very heart of the problem that I have with this book.  First of all, God’s miraculous power is not released to individuals who simply repeat a formulaic prayer once a day for 30 days.  What about obedience and faithful study of the Word of God?  Aren’t these just as important, or perhaps more important for God to determine whether or not to answer our prayers?  Apparently not according to Wilkinson.  In fact, he never once encourages the reader to study the Bible.  This might be due to the fact that a person who studies God’s Word might come across this statement by Jesus in Matthew 6: 7, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do.  For they think they will be heard for their many words.”  Obviously, reciting the Jabez prayer for 30 days would be considered to be “vain repetition.” 

     When one of His disciples asked Him how to pray why didn’t Jesus tell him to pray the Prayer of Jabez?  Why isn’t the Prayer of Jabez ever mentioned in the New Testament?

     There are so many problems with this book that I cannot detail in this amount of space.  It contains false doctrine (i.e. "seeking God’s blessings is our ultimate act of worship." - p.49).  It encourages the reader to do exactly what Jesus said not to do.  It sets the reader up for failure.  What happens when God answers the prayer by saying "No!" or "Just wait a while - you're not ready!"  The reader may become disillusioned and bitter toward prayer and even his/her faith.  While it may be unintentional the book is nothing but the “health and wealth” or "Prosperity Gospel" in disguise.  Beware!

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